Diamond risks ban after fracas with journalist
The actions of Steve Diamond, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, overshadowed the efforts of his side after their surprise victory away at Gloucester yesterday.
Diamond chose the moments after his post-match media briefing to confront journalist Sam Peters over an article in the Independent on Sunday from September and requested to speak to him. An argument followed after Diamond allegedly attempted to take Peters’ recording device.
The incident may lead to the remaining half of a suspended six-match stadium ban – for conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game – being activated by the Rugby Football Union. The suspension was originally given to Diamond in November last year when he claimed referee Craig Maxwell Keys was “making it up” following his side’s loss to Exeter.
Peters later wrote on Twitter: “Thanks for concern. I can confirm an altercation took place between me and Steve Diamond after he ‘offered me out’ tonight. Safe to say more play school than old school.”
Why Diamond decided to settle an old score after a brilliant triumph at Kingsholm only he will know. His team’s performance deserved better.
Sale, who declined to comment on the incident, had not won at Kingsholm for over five years. In fact they had failed to win away in the Premiership going back to March, which will have made yesterday’s result over third-placed Gloucester all the sweeter.
Tries by Chris Ashton, Faf de Klerk led to Sale wiping out an early deficit, with scores after the break by Rob Webber and Denny Solomona securing a bonus-point win.
“We were able to control Gloucester’s pack, who have been on fire,” assessed Diamond, before the scenes outside. “When we did get some ball we took our opportunities well.”
With Sale bleeding penalties early on, five inside the first 20 minutes, Owen Williams’ loop move created an overlap too good to squander for Gloucester, with Jaco Visagie on hand to finish for a 10-0 lead.
The visitors responded instantly. An excellent catch and run by Byron McGuigan gave Ashton enough space to finish. James O’Connor helped create a try for De Klerk, giving Sale a 14-10 lead. Three more points from Robert du Preez on the stroke of half-time stretched the advantage.
De Klerk’s yellow card for a knock-on should have handed Gloucester a way back into the game. Instead a sliced Williams clearance put them under pressure, with flanker Lewis Ludlow seeing yellow. Then another Du Preez penalty plus a try off the driving maul for Webber made it 10-25. Solomona’s finish out wide ensured that Sale’s luck at Kingsholm finally turned.
“We have to apologise for that performance,” conceded Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann.
‘Steve “offered me out”. Safe to say more playschool than old school’