Sale Sharks’ Fraser McKenzie talks Worcester and his plans to watch the Rugby World Cup!

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SALE WIN FINAL POOL MATCH

Sale Sharks ended their LV= Cup campaign on a high note after defeating Llanelli Scarlets 19-14 in the final pool game at Edgeley Park.

The Welsh visitors’ bonus point was enough to see them through to the semi-finals, but Sale will take significant encouragement from such a hard-fought win with four crucial Aviva Premiership fixtures ahead.

England international Hendre Fourie, who could justifiably feel aggrieved to not be included in Stuart Lancaster’s plans for the RBS Six Nations, produced an inspirational performance from open-side flanker in his first ever home appearance for Sale after moving from the relegated Leeds Carnegie.

The Edgeley Park pitch had been kept safely under wraps for several days in an attempt to fight off the freeze, and in such treacherous and wintry conditions it was almost inevitable a bulldozing forward would catch the eye.

Indeed, with barely ten minutes on the clock a rolling maul resulted in a try for Fourie, which fly-half Nick Macleod converted. Macleod continued in the same metronomic vein throughout the 80 minutes, slotting five out of six kicks despite the driving sleet and snow.

Llanelli responded to Fourie’s try with two penalties to reduce the deficit to just one point, before pulling ahead through a try from prop Peter Edwards to lead 11-7 at half-time.

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SALE AND ‘LE CRUNCH’

Sale have set up what is being dubbed “Le Crunch” by the Stockport based club’s marketing department. The Sharks 69-10 victory over La Vila was enough to ensure Pool 5 qualification will come down to a straight shootout between Sale and Brive at Edgeley Park next weekend.

The Sharks recorded their highest ever away score in their eleven try demolition job on their Spanish hosts. The Sharks took a huge following over to the South of Spain, with the appeal of a bit of summer sun proving too much for many of the Sharks fans who took up the opportunity to follow their side on their European travels.

These fans were not disappointed when the Sharks took a quick 17-3 lead, running in three tries with a lone penalty all La Vila could find as a response. They did however pick things up briefly after the early Sharks domination running in a try as their reward through Evans to briefly bring themselves back into contention.

Sale though turned the style back on and ran in two further tries, securing a bonus point and a 31-10 lead at the break.

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DIAMOND CHARGED WITH ABUSE

Sale Sharks’ executive director of sport is to be charged with two counts of verbally abusing match officials following their defeat at London Irish. If, as expected he is found guilty he is set to face a long touchline ban, which will no doubt have a significant impact on the Sharks fortunes over the next few weeks or months.

Diamond appears before the panel on Tuesday and he will have to answer to the charges relating to the comments he made regarding Wayne Barnes and his two assistants Rhys Davies and Gareth Copsey in his post match outburst.
Diamond was last October charged and received a 12 week suspended touchline ban as well as a hefty fine. If found guilty this week Diamond will have this suspended ban activated and any further sanction on top of this.

At the hearing for the offence, pushing Northampton’s head of fitness, Diamond was warned about the consequences he would face if found guilty of a similar offence and was also ordered to take a course in media training before the end of this season.
Since Diamond’s appointment in the latter parts of last season the Sharks have drastically improved. Having been dangerously close to relegation in the last few campaigns they now sit nicely at the business end of the table and look set to be in the mix for a play-off place at the end of the year.

The Sharks lost the game to which the charge relates 21-19 with Irish being awarded a late penalty for a scrum infringement, which they successfully scored much to Diamond’s anger. “I’m not whingeing, but if the referee is going to make his interpretations let it be consistent. That is what we are after. It is hard to take when such a crucial decision is made like that. He [Barnes] has to be 100% right that we wheeled the scrum. He ought to come to a coaching session and see that the wheel went out of the game 10 years ago.”

The panel are likely to conclude that Diamond has breached their guidelines and he could well be set for a lengthy spell away from the touchline.

Sale fan Toni Bowden post La Vila win | Sale Sharks 59-6 Rugby Club La Vila

Sale Sharks Video clip Score: five / 5

DIAMOND ABUSES REFEREES

Steve Diamond,  the Executive Director for Sports at Sale Sharks, is facing a ban for a long time after being charged with verbal abuse on two counts.  Diamond faces the ban for verbally abusing officials on the pitch after the team’s defeat last Sunday at the hands of London Irish.

Diamond will be appearing before a three man panel for discipline on Tuesday in Stafford, accused of abusing the  match referees for that day – Wayne Barnes, and his assistant referees namely Rhys Davies and Gareth Copsey.

Steve Diamond has a history of disciplinary charges.  It was only last October when Steve Diamond received a twelve week touchline ban for pushing the Fitness Coach of the Northampton team, Nick Johnston, on the sidelines.  That time the match was won by the Sharks over the Saints at the Edgeley Park, which would have at least helped sweeten Diamond’s five thousand pound fine.

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