Diamond: ‘We will keep doing what we do’

Editor

Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond is happy with his side's current form after they secured a sixth position in the Premiership table on Saturday.

The AJ Bell Stadium outfit outsmarted Newcastle Falcons 21-15, despite a Nilu Latu hat-trick, at Sandy Park. 

This victory ensured Sale to not only finish their season in style but also secure a Champions Cup spot for next season. 

A delightful Diamond admitted that albeit them achieving their target, they were made to work for it against a strong Falcons outfit.

"We've come up here to win and we did – but it's never easy and it wasn't today," Diamond told the Belfast Telegraph.

"Joe came on and slotted two vital kicks and stepped into the breech when we had an injury to Mike Haley and that was difference in the second half.

"Newcastle couldn't live with us for the first 20 minutes, but fair play to them, they got back in the game and every time they went to the corner we struggled to cope and they scored.

"We knew it would be a battle and I think we got the rub of the green and were lucky to win, but time and time again we prove we have a relentless desire to be at the top of the game.

"We're proud to be in the Champions Cup and to represent the north and we hope Newcastle will (do so) with us in the near future."

There a number of players are set to be leaving Sale at the end of the season which isn't bothering the 47-year-old former hooker too much.

"We will keep doing what we do," he said. 

"We have people who come and stay for four or five year and we're disappointed when people leave.

"Danny Cipriani and Tommy Taylor are the only two leaving of their own volition and you could argue it's the right decision for them at this stage of the careers."