Sharks go third, ‘doing it right way’

VICTORY took Sale into third place in the Premiership table and rugby director Steve Diamond said: “Our investment – like Exeter's – is correct and above board.

“The Saracens predicament enabled them to have twice as many players and coaches and give people the opportunity to only play 15 minutes a game and learn that way whereas sides like Sale have had to thrrow kids in from 18, 19 and sink or swim.

“They've had the benefit for ten years of doing that and that's why they've been so fantastic, let's be honest.

“I see there's one or two clubs who are struggling to adapt to spending within the cap and their positions in the league are reflected in that.”

TEAMS

EXETER: Dollman 7; O'Flaherty 6, Whitten 6, S Hill 6, Woodburn 7; Steenson 6, Townsend 5 (J Maunder 55, 6); Moon 6 (Hepburn 42, 6, Moon 67), Taione 5 (Poole 76), Pieretto 5 (Street 43, 6), Dennis 67 (S Skinner 48, 7), J Hill 6, Ewers 6, Vermeulen 6 (Kvesic 68, 6), S Simmonds 7.

Not used: H Skinner, Hendrickson.

SALE: Hammersley 6; Ashton 7, S James 6, Van Rensburg 6 (L James 44, 6), McGuigan 7; R Du Preez 7, Cliff 6; Harrison 7 (Oosthuizen 48, 6), Webber 7 (Langdon 72), Cooper-Woolley 6 (John 48, 6), Evans 6 (Postlethwaite 62, 6), J Du Preez 7 (Phillips 62, 6), Ross 7, B Curry 6, D Du Preez 8.

Not used: Warr, Yarde.

REFEREE: JP Doyle

ATTENDANCE: 11,965

Star man

Daniel du Preez – Sale

Exeter boss Rob Baxter refused to blame Six Nations call-ups for Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ollie Devoto, Stuart Hogg and Harry Williams plus injuries to inter nationals Jack Nowell, Nic White and Alex Cuthber t for his side's defeat.

“We don't need excuses,” he said. “Sale are a good side. They got themselves on the front foot and we didn't deal with that.

Prop Alec Hepburn's ankle makes him another injury worry.