George Ford helps Sale end Leicester’s Premiership defence to reach final

They don’t mind telling you that northern rugby matters at Sale but there can be no more compelling evidence than this. For Sale Sharks edged a thunderous encounter, the kind of clash of which the titans would be proud, to take their place in their first Premiership final since 2006. It was a performance of blood and thunder, equally so from Leicester, but ultimately the Sharks had George Ford in their ranks this season and the Tigers did not.

Ford was nigh-on flawless, delivering the kind of individual showing that England will take note. Manu Tuilagi wasn’t far behind while Tom Curry began in fearsome fashion and somehow found another gear after a nasty hamstring to brother Ben that will surely rule him out of the final. That their two tries were scored by two local lads in Tom Roebuck and Arron Reed will also delight their director of rugby Alex Sanderson.

Leicester, for their part, were equally committed, just as physical and can be proud of how they have defended their title in a season in which they have been so disrupted by the loss of Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield. They were not helped beforehand by the loss of Handrè Pollard to injury, either, and the away curse continues in the Premiership playoffs.

The tempo was ferocious from the off and rarely let up. Leicester enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges – Sale repeatedly getting on the wrong side of the referee Wayne Barnes and shipping five penalties in the opening 12 minutes. Jimmy Gopperth kicked two of them to nudge the Tigers ahead but Sale, to their credit, righted the ship and built their way into the match.

Tuliagi ran hard and straight and with the kind of oomph that will please Borthwick. Afforded front foot ball, Ford began to pull the