The Prem: Saracens 17-21 Sale: Sharks beat Sarries regardless of crimson card

Chris Jones, BBC Rugby Union correspondent

The Prem has been all about free flowing assault thus far this season, however this was rather more of an old style dogfight.

A stop-start recreation dominated by the referee’s whistle, Sale got here up with two huge performs within the second half: Tom O’Flaherty with a shocking particular person rating, whereas Ben Bamber’s strive was additionally a magnificence after wonderful build-up play.

The huge names stepped up for Sale. Courtney Lawes seemed his outdated self within the lineout and on the ground, whereas Tom Curry was magnificent within the form of bodily scrap he relishes. George Ford managed the sport fantastically within the closing levels.

Sarries director of rugby turned wine marketing consultant turned technical director Brendan Venter once more handed media duties over to go coach Joe Shaw post-match, however he’ll speak this week in a bid to keep away from additional sanctions from Prem Rugby.

Saracens: Daly; J Bracken, Tompkins, Va’enuku, Segun; Burke, Williams; Mawi, Dan, Street, Itoje (c), Tizard, Isiekwe, Gonzalez, Barbeary.

Replacements: Clarke, O’Driscoll, Clarey, Martin, Michelow, Earl, C Bracken, Malins.

Sale: Carpenter; O’Flaherty, Marchant, Lozowski, Reed; Ford, Warr; Smith, Jibulu, Opoku-Fordjour, Van Rhyn (c), Bamber, Lawes, Curry, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Caine, McIntyre, Francis, Tshiunza, Canakaivata, Hanson, Louw, Loganimasi.

Sin-bin: Lozowski (11)

Red card: Vermeulen (18)

Referee: Joe James.