Jones eyes quarter-finals

Sale as good as any in Europe says Sharks boss

Last updated: 21st December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Jones eyes quarter-finals

Jones: 'Mentally strong'

On paper we're as good as any team in Europe. We've got three wins from four games and we're in a great position. We've showed we're mentally strong and we need to show it again against Cardiff and Toulouse.

Kingsley Jones
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Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones believes his side has what it takes to clinch a Heineken Cup quarter-final spot after their hard-fought win over Harlequins on Sunday.

Sale triumphed 21-17 over the Londoners in driving snow at Edgeley Park after trailing 14-8 at half-time.

They now face a trip to Cardiff and a home clash with Pool Five leaders Toulouse to decide whether they will progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

"On paper we're as good as any team in Europe," said Jones. "We've got three wins from four games and we're in a great position.

"We've shown we're mentally strong and we need to show it again against Cardiff and Toulouse.

"Getting out of your pool in the Heineken Cup is one of the hardest things you will do in your career and you don't get many opportunities to do that.

"Cardiff and Toulouse will be very tough games but we are in a great position and need to back this up now in the Guinness Premiership."

Respect

The match was halted in the 70th minute as a result of the hazardous conditions and groundstaff had to clear snow from the pitch perimeter before the final 10 minutes could be played.

"I don't think I played in conditions as bad as that," Jones continued. "They were big old snowflakes.

"But full credit to Quins - they fronted up and I have a lot of respect for them. It could have gone either way, let's be honest.

"Conditions were a bit of a lottery and I'm really pleased with the players and the way they ground out the win."

Quins coach John Kingston insisted he never had any safety concerns for his players.

"I have played in worse than that in a Varsity match," he said.

Challenge

"I think the issues were as long as the lines were visible, and as long as the ground wasn't solid underneath, which it wasn't, then what was the problem?

"For 50 minutes a lot of very good rugby was played. It descended a little towards the end of the game but, I may sound a bit old-fashioned, but games were played like that a few years ago and we were clear that the pitch was soft enough. There was no safety issue and both teams got stuck in."

Quins have now lost all four of their Pool Five matches and Kingston said the focus would now be fixed on the Guinness Premiership.

"It was an interesting challenge for the guys today," he added. "But we approached it almost as a pre-season match.

"Clearly we were out of the competition but it was the best meaningful practice for the games that lie ahead in the Guinness Premiership."