Underperforming Sale have themselves to blame for defeat

London Irish 25 Sale 23

This was probably the death blow to Sale Sharks’ hopes of a play-off place,
though arguably it was dealt by themselves rather than London Irish
yesterday.

An incensed Steve Diamond would have the referee brought into the
debate, too, and he would have a point.



“There are big things — money, livelihoods — on the results of this
competition,” Diamond, the Sale director of rugby, said afterwards,
exasperated at elements beyond his control.

He did, he said, even attempt to
exert some influence upon it in midweek, when he made representations asking
exactly w…