Sale lose grip on fractious battle after Du Preez sent off
Steve Diamond was left with a bitter taste in his mouth as Sale Sharks lost their discipline and along with it a feisty, fractious battle at Sixways.
Sale’s director of rugby sarcastically suggested that referee Luke Pearce “did not like Faf de Klerk for winning the World Cup” when the official failed to punish Duncan Weir for a late hit on the South Africa scrum-half. Diamond also questioned Pearce’s decision to send off Sharks lock Jean-Luc du Preez – a turning point in a game that swung dramatically in Worcester’s favour.
Sharks appeared in control, leading 10-3 through two tries from De Klerk and England wing Chris Ashton when Du Preez was sent off for a shoulder charge to the face of Graham Kitchener, who slumped to the ground.
Weir kicked to reduce the lead to 10-6 on the stroke of half-time, and, with a man advantage, Worcester produced a second-half fightback to snatch the points and leave Sharks with just a losing bonus one.
Diamond was unhappy with what he felt was Kitchener’s overreaction, while being upset by Weir not being punished for a late tackle on De Klerk.
He said: “I’ve only seen one angle and it didn’t seem a red card.
“It was a game-changer because he is a big fella to lose. It is always disappointing to lose someone, especially to an innocuous clear-out at a ruck.”
De Klerk’s 65-yard interception try from Francois Venter’s loose pass showed his trademark quick thinking and feet. Ashton swooped on fly-half Rob du Preez’s perfect kick through to dive over for the second try. Sharks had even managed to shrug off an early yellow card for full-back Simon Hammersley, shown for a high tackle on Melani Nanai.
But seconds before the break Jean-Luc du Preez saw red. Sharks being down to 14 men for the second half was a red rag to the bull-like Warriors.
Two tries converted by Weir clinched the points. First, Perry Humphreys and then Ashley Beck found gaps in the Sharks defence.
AJ MacGinty’s penalty salvaged a losing bonus point for the visitors.
Worcester director of rugby Alan Solomons said: “We are fourth in the table – there’s a long way to go.”