Leicester 15-25 Sale: Sam James’ interception starts Sharks frenzy
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Sale Sharks centre Sam James breaks to score an interception try during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Leicester Tigers and Sale at Welford Road on January 29, 2021 in Leicester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
ALEX Sanderson urged his new Sale team not to get “carried away” after the Sharks had recorded back-to-back wins for the first time at Welford Road in the Premiership.
Sanderson admitted to a few opening night nerves after leaving Saracens to return to his first club as director of rugby in place of the departed Steve Diamond.
Sanderson, who was an assistant in Saracens' successful coaching group under Mark McCall, added: “I would have been happy to have got glimpses of something to build on, but to get the win on top of that is a bonus. It's just a win. A good one but let's not get carried away.
“I'm massively impressed with the effort. This is just the start. We have so much more in us – it's about bringing it out.”
He singled out Sale's defence as a key factor in a match which Leicester dominated territorially in the first half to gain an 8-0 lead through a try from flanker Tommy Reffell and a Zak Henry penalty.
Sanderson said his new team thrived on defence and decided at half-time to concentrate on field position. He explained: “I have come into an organisation that is after my own heart. They (Sale players) love tackling people hard.
“When I'm talking to them in training, I have got to be careful not to wind them up too much. I have to pull them back – I love them for doing that.”
Sale also had the matchwinning class in half-backs Faf de Klerk and AJ MacGinty, who contributed ten points.
MacGinty set up Marland Yarde for a second-half try through a nifty cross-kick which allowed the left wing to slickly outpace the cover.
Another outstanding individual moment had come in the 29th minute when Sam James scooted from his own 22 to change the momentum of the match.
James, who was making his 150th appearance, intercepted a pass off a ruck by former Sale and Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth.
Up until that point, Leicester had played in a controlled manner and had looked very capable of overturning their highranked opponents.
However, James' try knocked Leicester off course. MacGinty converted and added a penalty just before half-time.
The change continued after half-time through Sale gaining a penalty and setting up a forward drive which brought a try for lock Cobus Wiese.
To further punish Leicester, who had lost Harry Wells to the sin-bin for side entry at a ruck, Sale struck again in the 55th minute when MacGinty spotted Yarde free on the left. MacGinty landed the difficult conversion and a further penalty on 70 minutes to put Sale 25-8 ahead.
To the credit of Tigers, who had seen a second player sin-binned in substitute prop Nephi Leatigaga for a high tackle, they rallied to make a try for wing Nemani Nadolo which substitute fly-half Johnny McPhillips converted.
Leicester then finished off strongly by bursting clear off a break by centre Matt Scott. However, the attack broke down summing up a frustrating evening for the Tigers.
■By ROB WILDMAN
