Kingsley Jones feels Charlie Hodgson is "playing the rugby of his life" after starring in Sale's 21-16 win over Harlequins.
Quins' plans for Guinness Premiership clash hit by injury and illness
Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones believes Charlie Hodgson is "playing the rugby of his life" after the 21-16 win over Harlequins.
Fly-half Hodgson kicked three penalties and a conversion but his most telling contribution to the win came in the closing seconds.
Quins looked set to snatch at least a draw when substitute Ugo Monye dived over in the left corner in injury time following a spell of intense pressure.
However, the try was chalked off when television replays showed that Hodgson had come across and forced Monye's left foot into touch.
Concerned
"I'll be honest, I was really worried in the last 15 minutes," said a relieved Jones. "It's no coincidence that Quins finish really strong.
"At the end of every game they come back. I was really concerned that we had let the game slip.
"But the way Charlie Hodgson made that tackle sums up the way he is playing at the moment. Any flanker would have been proud of that tackle. It's importance is massive.
"I've over the moon with Charlie. I think he's playing the rugby of his life. The tackle just sums up the attitude of the whole squad. The extra one per cent commitment and the spirit we have here showed through."
The two teams had seemed certain to go in at the break locked together at six apiece before the Sharks grabbed a crucial try through James Gaskell.
Jones believes the teenage lock, who finished off a break straight down the middle by hooker Neil Briggs, is a real star in the making.
"He was in the right place and that's what happens when you've got the magic dust," he added. "Being in the right place at the right time makes top rugby players.
"James is just going to grow in confidence and get better and better. He's starting to find his feet at this level. He is a tremendous talent."
Quins head coach John Kingston felt a draw was the least his side deserved after they suffered a third defeat in the last 20 days to Sale, who won the two Heineken Cup meetings between the Guinness Premiership duo.
"We felt we had just about done enough up here in the Heineken and we certainly feel we've done enough tonight," Kingston said. "I'm glad we're not coming back here for a little while.
"I felt it would have been the least we deserved had we scored the try at the end because we knuckled down and stuck at it.
"It's a very disappointed changing room because they put in a huge amount of effort and I think probably deserve far more than they got."
Preparations hampered
The visitors weren't helped by having to change their line-up at the last minute, with Gonzalo Tiesi and John Andress hurt in the build-up to the match and Nils Mordt a late withdrawal due to illness.
Kingston also revealed that David Strettle and Mike Brown struggled with illness while fly-half Nick Evans was forced off with a shoulder problem.
"Since yesterday morning we've managed to lose Gonzalo Tiesi, John Andress and Nils Mordt who were fit to play 36 hours ago," he said. "It never rains but it pours.
"Not a lot of things are going our way at the moment but we've got to sort that out. The bounce of the ball comes to you if you keep working hard and doing the right things."
