Leicester Tigers 17-24 Sale Sharks: Two wins from two for Sharks in thrilling Premiership battle
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Updated 21/10/2023 at 17:04 GMT
Sale Sharks survived a late Leicester surge to make it two wins from two in the Gallagher Premiership, overcoming the Tigers 24-17 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. A thrilling battle saw both sides in control at various points until a Rob du Preez try in the last 10 minutes proved the difference, condemning the unfortunate Leicester to a second defeat this campaign
Tom Roebuck of Sale Sharks scores their first try during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Leicester, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Sale battered their way to a statement 24-17 victory over Leicester, as Rob du Preez’s late try continued The Tigers’ winless start to the Gallagher Premiership season.
That score and resulting conversion meant it was 14 points for the Sharks captain, but the real foundation for victory was laid by another dominant performance from the pack.
The biggest gap in the match was nine points and even that only lasted for a couple of minutes, but Sale just raised their game every time Leicester tried to peg them back.
After restoring parity 10 minutes in, Sharks never again trailed thanks to a controlled performance that would please head coach Alex Sanderson, his side beginning to look extremely Saracens-like which should put the rest of the league on notice.
It wasn’t all muscle though, Raffi Quirke showed sharp thinking to release Du Preez for the game-winning score and Arron Reed was an ever-present danger on the left wing, while it was centre Sam Bedlow who secured the match-winning turnover.
Ollie Hassell-Collins was the main threat out wide for Leicester, while Jamie Shillcock pulled the strings masterfully replacing Charlie Atkinson from fly-half.
He set up Mike Brown for the game’s opening score with a wonderfully delayed mis-pass, but Sale’s try-scoring reply from Tom Roebuck six minutes later set the tone for the afternoon.
When Sharks scored their second, Leicester hit back through Hanro Liebenberg just a few minutes later with the captain leading from the front after last week’s 25-11 humbling by Bristol.
Three tries later and Tigers were chasing a draw from their own 22 when Liebenberg made back-to-back breaks up the wing before Hassell-Collins took his team up to the edge of striking distance and the Mattioli Woods Welford Road crowd was in full voice.
But that was as good as it got for the hosts, Hassell-Collins found himself isolated the next time he looked to break through and Bedlow’s quick rucking continued Sale’s perfect start.
Talking point: Sale win heavyweight arm wrestle
With seven South African forwards selected between both teams, this game was always going to be decided by the piano shifters, not the piano players. McKellar admitted his side were physically dominated by Bristol and demanded a response from his side, and captain Liebenberg’s try minutes after Sale opened up a nine-point lead was the definition of leading from the front.
Brown would’ve been dealing with a riot from both packs had he tried to play on after calling mark at the end of a brutal first 40 minutes, but the second half was arguably even tougher.
Sharks had to survive at least 30 phases with the clock in the red before Bedlow finally got the turnover and secured the 24-17 win.
That they only scored one try through the forwards, courtesy of Dan du Preez’s sneak, as perhaps the most surprising detail of the game.
Player of the match: Ernest van Rhyn
Rob du Preez could feel justifiably aggrieved to miss out here, but really this should be going to all 12 Sale forwards who featured. Ernest van Rhyn was fantastic last time out against Northampton and he’s already shaping up to be one of the signings of the season after continuing his fine form in the Midlands.
He was the player who launched Sale’s first attack of the game, feeding Tommy Taylor for a beak down the left after Tigers had dominated the opening exchanges, and then set Roebuck free to score The Sharks’ first.
It wasn’t just a busy performance from Van Rhyn, he showed genuine game-breaking ability up against another top South African blindside operator in the shape of Liebenberg.
That Van Rhyn was even credited with Dan du Preez’s try at one point, and no one batted an eyelid, tells its own story of how industrious and incisive he was.
To go toe-to-toe with Leicester’s captain and come out with honours even, encapsulated the forward firepower that Sale produced, and it likely won’t be the last
Player ratings
Leicester Tigers: Mike Brown 7, Josh Bassett 5, Guy Porter 5, Dan Kelly 5, Ollie Hassell-Collins 7, Jamie Shillcock 7, Tom Whiteley 6, Francois van Wyk 6, Charlie Clare 7, Joe Heyes 5, Cameron Henderson 6, Mike Williams 6, Hanro Liebenberg 8, Olly Cracknell 7, Kyle Hatherall 7, Replacements: Nic Dolly 7, James Whitcombe 6, Will Hurd 6, Sam Carter 6, Matt Rogerson 6, Joe Powell 7, Charlie Atkinson 6, Phil Cokanasiga 5
Sale Sharks: Tom O’Flaherty 6, Tom Roebuck 7, Sam James 6, Sam Bedlow 7, Aaron Reed 7, Rob du Preez 8, Gus Warr 8, Simon McIntyre 7, Tommy Taylor 7, Nick Schonert 6, Cobus Wiese 6, Jonny Hill 6, Ernest van Rhyn 8, Sam Dugdale 6, Daniel du Preez 8, Replacements: Ethan Caine n/a, Ross Harrison 7, James Harper 6, Josh Beaumont 6, Rouban Birch 7, Raffi Quirke 7, Tom Curtis n/a, Conor Doherty 6
Match highlights
TRY! LEICESTER 5-0 SALE
That was easy! Mike Brown is over to open the scoring after a teasing delayed pass from Shillcock, who can't add the extras.
TRY! LECIESTER 5-7 SALE
Sale have spent most of the opening ten minutes defending, but they score with their first possession in Leicester's half! Van Rhyn made the line break and fed Tom Roebuck to waltz in under the posts. Du Preez adds the extras too, game on!
TRY! LEICESTER 5-14 SALE
Dan du Preez looks to have snuck over - as much as you can sneak as a hulking South African back row - it's gone to TMO with an on-field decision of try. And that's confirmed, with Rob du Preez adding the easiest of extras.
TRY! LEICESTER 12-14 SALE
Statement received! Kyle Hatherall went close on a cute tip-on from Henderson, before Liebenberg outspringbokked compatriot Cobus Wiese to muscle over and set up a simple conversion for Shillcock.
TRY! LEICESTER 17-17 SALE
How about Hassell-Collins? He was close earlier but virtually the first time he gets the ball in space all game thanks to a superb miss-pass from Powell, and shakes off O'Flaherty to score. Shillcock can't put his side ahead though, his conversion was just a few agonising inches wide.
TRY! LEICESTER 17-24 SALE
Scored by Rob du Preez, made by Quirke, the Sale half-backs were in perfect sync there. The captain was put in acres of space by his nine there and had time to celebrate as he galloped over before getting back up to hit the conversion.
Key stats
- 323 metres made by Sale, compared to just 96 from the hosts.
- 11 Leicester handling errors, more than double what Sale produced.
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