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Tom Curry charges forward before scoring Sale’s second try of the match - Getty Images/Steve Bardens
Harlequins 29 Sale 43
Sale Sharks are up to third after scoring seven tries in their win over Harlequins, with Asher Opoku-Fordjour impressing as Sale’s pack took Harlequins apart upfront.
Sale had a bonus point by half-time thanks to the power of their forwards, with Tom Curry scoring twice and Luke Cowan-Dickie finishing off a maul. But the pick of the tries came from Opoku-Fordjour, the young England prop who carries with such power. An earlier break had led to the first of Curry’s tries, and with another destructive run later, Opoku-Fordjour scored himself.
Harlequins did score twice themselves in the first half, with Cadan Murley marking his return with a well-worked team after Jack Kenningham’s opener. Incredibly, Marcus Smith’s conversion for Murley’s try bounced off both posts and hit the crossbar twice before dropping on the wrong side. As misses go, it was spectacular.
More of the same from Sale’s pack after half-time, with tries from Hill and Jean-Luc du Preez, had the visitors in a commanding position leading 36-15. But Harlequins rarely go quietly, with tries by Cameron Anderson and Nathan Jibulu giving them hope going into the final minutes, until Ben Waghorn’s intercepted pass presented Tom Roebuck with a gift of a try to rubber-stamp Sale’s win.
Full report to follow...
05:01 PM BST
FULL-TIME: Harlequins 29-43 Sale
The clock is in the red but Quins get a penalty and are trying to find another try to pick up another bonus point.
Bit of room for Green down the left as they reach the Sale 22. But Sale come up with the breakdown penalty and that will be it. A deserved win for Sale, who after going behind early were the better side throughout.
That leaves Quins’ playoff hopes in a precarous position.
04:59 PM BST
TRY ROEBUCK! Harlequins 29-43 Sale
Anderson does very well take a high Smith cross-field kick in his own 22. But then disaster! Quins throw it away with an interception try which Roebuck picks off to score Sale’s seventh! Du Preez takes his time with the conversion and that should be that. Waghorn’s pass over the top did not go to plan.
04:56 PM BST
TRY JIBULU! Harlequins 29-36 Sale
Well, then. Jibulu, who is joining Sale next season, scores in the corner to give Harlequins a glimmer of hope. Conversion goes in off the post! Harlequins are within seven!
04:55 PM BST
74 mins - Harlequins 22-36 Sale
Messy lineout from Quins but Sale knock-on, giving the hosts a chance just outside the 22...
04:52 PM BST
74 mins - Harlequins 22-36 Sale
Cunningham-South hammers up off a lineout, now Quins look wide. Green well tackled, five metres out, loads of phases without much joy until Smith tries a desperate chip through which goes into touch.
04:50 PM BST
73 mins - Harlequins 22-36 Sale
For once Harlequins do have a lineout in Sale’s half, and they lose possession. Sale generously give the ball right back and then fail to roll away... surely Harlequins can’t do this, can they?
04:48 PM BST
71 mins - Harlequins 22-36 Sale
Another good breakdown steal by Harlequins, but it’s not a great clearance, inviting Wills to run it back with interest. And another Quins turnover! They keep saving themselves at the breakdown, this time winning a penalty.
04:46 PM BST
69 mins - Harlequins 22-36 Sale
Sale don’t quite make the most of another good position, Quirke grubbering through but Anderson is there to tidy up for Quins, who then clear to touch. The problem for the home side is they just cannot get out of their half.
04:45 PM BST
67 mins - Harlequins 22-36 Sale
From that penalty Sale find touch. No joy with the maul this time so they look wide with Reed threatening, but Quins come up with a good turnover near their own line before Gjaltema clears well.
04:41 PM BST
66 mins - Harlequins 22-36 Sale
Penalty coming Sale’s way off the maul, they’ve had the upper hand there all day. Quirke now on for Sale as well, that’s his first appearance since January.
04:38 PM BST
64 mins - Harlequins 22-36 Sale
Might be the biggest cheer of the afternoon as a boot is thrown, and Quins win a penalty. They couldn’t, could they? Big run from Jibulu until Quins knock on.
One of the Sale players is flat out, think it might be Hill following that Jibulu run. Medics are on to check on him with Andrews about to come on.
04:36 PM BST
62 mins - Harlequins 22-36 Sale
Bit of a flat end to a good Sale attack as Smith easily marks a loose kick, then finds touch near halfway.
04:35 PM BST
TRY ANDERSON! Harlequins 22-36 Sale
However, Quins do have a penalty, and find touch in Sale’s 22. After the maul is stopped, Gjaltema cleverly delays his pass and Anderson scores. That’s Harlequins’ third, and Smith converts.
04:31 PM BST
56 mins - Harlequins 15-36 Sale
A very rare entry into Sale’s 22 for Quins, who have to start scoring in a hurry. Dombrandt battles hard not to be turned over, it all looks a bit static.
Now they get it wide to Cunningham-South and score in the corner! It’s a brilliant finish to avoid going into touch from the England forward. Smith can’t convert from the touchline... wait a second, now the try is being checked! Is the pass from Smith forward? It is. No try.
04:26 PM BST
TRY JEAN-LUC DU PREEZ! Harlequins 15-36 Sale
Sale’s pack deliver again, the No 8 Du Preez this time finishing off an attack. Bamber did well to rescue a slightly miscued lineout and from there the pick-and-gos were too much for Harlequins, again.
04:22 PM BST
52 mins - Harlequins 15-31 Sale
Exhibition stuff at the moment from Ford with his tactical kicking, threading another perfect one to touch in Harlequins’ half. “Wake up Quins” someone shouts in the crowd, they are comfortably second best at the moment.
Scrum penalty Sale, proper dominance now. Ford goes to the corner.
04:19 PM BST
49 mins - Harlequins 15-31 Sale
Bamber with a brilliant run and Sale’s pack are working hard again driving at that Quins line, but, this time Harlequins survive after Warr is held up over the line by Walker.
04:16 PM BST
46 mins - Harlequins 15-31 Sale
Sale’s blitz defence on those fringes working well now, forcing a soft knock-on from Murley. Back we come for a Sale penalty at the scrum, won after Quins collapsed. Ford finds touch in the 22.
04:13 PM BST
TRY HILL! Harlequins 15-31 Sale
And that pressure leads to try number five. Worth noting before the last penalty that Smith had put in a promising chip and chase, only for Sale to handle that and then pin Quins back. The hosts cannot live with Sale in those short-range situations at the moment.
04:12 PM BST
Second half underway
Another great kick through has Care in coffin corner, and that’s a turnover penalty. Nowhere to escape there and Sale go to the corner...
04:02 PM BST
The pick of Sale’s first-half tries
What. A. Try
Asher Opoku-Fordjour is enjoying himself in the Twickenham sunshine!#GallagherPrem | #HARvSALpic.twitter.com/ovfdOlV5g7
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 19, 2025
03:55 PM BST
HALF-TIME: Harlequins 15-26 Sale
Good hands from Care and Green to Anderson as Quins crack the Sale 22. Now it comes wide to Murley but he’s tackled into touch, has a bit of a chat with Rodd, and that’s the break!
Sale have responded well, getting great power from their forward carriers in Opoku-Fordjour and Curry in particular, scoring three of their four in this half.
Work to do for the hosts, while Sale if it stays this way will move up to third.
03:52 PM BST
39 mins - Harlequins 15-26 Sale
The home crowd think Dombrandt is in but we’re coming back for a forward pass from Smith. Well, for the Sale knock-on before that, so a Quins scrum with time running out in the half.
03:49 PM BST
TRY CURRY! Harlequins 15-26 Sale
Harlequins do well to stop the maul but Sale are still on the move, only five metres out now. Now closer... and over! Curry thinks he has a second but the TMO, again, will need to check it. Curry sprints back to halfway, so must be confident.
Replays show Curry twisted and managed to get the ball down despite Evans’ tackle. That’s the Sale bonus point and they’ve come back well after that early 10-0 deficit.
03:46 PM BST
36 mins - Harlequins 15-19 Sale
Another brilliant Ford clearance and Harlequins are pinged for holding on, and then marched back 10 metres! Sale can put this in the corner and go for the bonus-point score before the break.
03:45 PM BST
34 mins - Harlequins 15-19 Sale
Reeds scythes through a gap and it looks as though Harlequins are in trouble, but with a turnover they kick long, Ford doing well to scramble a clearance.
Not to touch though, Smith running back to 30 metres out. Harlequins go through the phases and eventually knock on.
03:40 PM BST
TRY OPOKU-FORDJOUR! Harlequins 15-19 Sale
Sale look to be in for a third, after another great Opoku-Fordjour run, but it’s being checked to see if a player was in touch in the build-up. It’s not clear and obvious, so the try stands!
It’s made by the Du Preez brothers, Robert freeing Jean-Luc, before Cowan-Dickie’s offload to Opoku-Fordjour who has way too much power for Green. Sale back ahead with Robert du Preez’s conversion.
03:38 PM BST
30 mins - Harlequins 15-12 Sale
A scrum penalty win for Harlequins deep in their half, Opoku-Fordjour pinged there. Harlequins again struggling to get much ground with the kick to touch, maybe the wind has changed?
03:35 PM BST
TRY MURLEY! Harlequins 15-12 Sale
That’s the risk of blitzing. Sale’s wings rushing in do quite well shutting Harlequins’ attack at first, but then Northmore floats a ball over the top and Murley and Green combine for a one-two, so well worked.
No conversion but it’s astonishing. Smith hits the post, the crossbar, the other post, crossbar again, and misses!
03:32 PM BST
23 mins - Harlequins 10-12 Sale
Sale drifting across the field after a take by Carpenter and Roebuck, and Harlequins pounce at the breakdown for a penalty. Smith doesn’t make much ground with the kick to touch but a chance for Harlequins to try something.
03:29 PM BST
22 mins - Harlequins 10-12 Sale
Ford has just come up with an excellent clearance to get Sale well out of their 22. The ball has found touch just outside Harlequins’ 22.
03:24 PM BST
TRY CURRY! Harlequins 10-12 Sale
Incredible run from Opoku-Fordjour, must have broken about eight tackles, and from there Sale are over through Curry! What a run from the England prop before Sale finished it off. Du Preez on conversion duties instead of Ford and he lands it, Sale lead.
03:23 PM BST
15 mins - Harlequins 10-5 Sale
Play stopped while Herbst gets some treatment, he’s good to continue. Sale from their own 10-metre line attack off a lineout, until Warr box-kicks, taken well by Murley on his return.
Harlequins are then pinged for playing Warr at a ruck, so Sale find touch... and lose the lineout.
03:17 PM BST
TRY COWAN-DICKIE! Harlequins 10-5 Sale
TMO having a look, Sale think their maul is over through Cowan-Dickie for a score. TMO finds an angle which shows the ball is on the line, try! Sale back in it. Ford, into the wind, misses to the right.
03:16 PM BST
11 mins - Harlequins 10-0 Sale
Sale’s first chance coming up after a breakdown penalty against Harlequins, Evans too eager. Chipped into the corner.
03:14 PM BST
9 mins - Harlequins 10-0 Sale
First bit of consistent ball for Sale, without much progress as they move on halfway. And they’re turned over - by Evans - before Harlequins clear.
03:12 PM BST
TRY KENNINGHAM! Harlequins 10-0 Sale
Lovely hands from Dombrandt there. Off the lineout Northmore crashes up, Quins recycle and Dombrandt pops an inside ball to Kenningham at pace before the flanker breaks clear. Smith converts, Quins firing early.
03:10 PM BST
5 mins - Harlequins 3-0 Sale
Sale with a lineout in Quins half but they are pinged at the maul. Not a slick start for the visitors as they now play the man in the air at the lineout. Smith into the corner.
03:08 PM BST
PENALTY SMITH! Harlequins 3-0 Sale
Efficient start from the hosts as Smith converts.
03:07 PM BST
2 mins - Harlequins 0-0 Sale
A typically lively start from the home side, breaking into Sale’s half and with a breakdown penalty on the way. Smith tries a grubber which Carpenter clears up, but Quins will take a shot. Green combined with Anderson, the late call-up, to make the break.
03:05 PM BST
Kickoff!
Impressive fireworks and a bit of Lady Gaga greet the teams. Smoke clearing as Smith gets us going.
02:52 PM BST
Last time they met
It could not have been tighter, with Sale sneaking a one-point win in September.
02:49 PM BST
Another late Quins change
Noted in the teams but Simon Kerrod is out, which means Wyn Jones wears No 18 and Jordan Els is No 17.
02:30 PM BST
The teams
Harlequins: 15. Tyrone Green, 14. Cameron Anderson, 13. Oscar Beard, 12. Luke Northmore, 11. Cadan Murley, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care; 1. Fin Baxter, 2. Jack Walker, 3. **** Lamositele, 4. Irne Herbst, 5. Chandler Cunningham-South, 6. Jack Kenningham, 7. Will Evans, 8. Alex Dombrandt (C)
Replacements: 16. Nathan Jibulu, 17. Jordan Els, 18. Wyn Jones, 19. Joe Launchbury, 20. Tom Lawday, 21. Lewis Gjaltema, 22. Jamie Benson, 23. Ben Waghorn
Sale Sharks: 15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Tom Curry, 8. JL du Preez.
Replacements: 16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Sam Dugdale, 20. Hyron Andrews, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Alex Wills
02:00 PM BST
Welcome
Afternoon everybody, glorious conditions here at The Stoop. A bit of a breeze which could have an impact but both teams should give this a decent go in the sun.
The ramifications here feel enormous given that Harlequins and Sale are only separated by two points and narrowly outside the top four. The good news for Harlequins is that Cadan Murley is back from injury, making his first appearance since the start of the Six Nations with England.
Murley is one four changes for Harlequins although there is news of a late change, with Nick David dropping out through illness and Cameron Anderson coming in on the right wing. Luke Northmore is in at inside centre while Danny Care makes a start at scrum-half as well in place of Will Porter. The final Harlequins change sees Irne Herbst coming in at lock to partner Chandler Cunningham-South.
Joe Carpenter and Bevan Rodd meanwhile are back in the Sale side while there is a welcome return to the matchday squad for Raffi Quirke, who has not featured for Sale since the Champions Cup back in January.
There is no Ben Curry, missing through injury, with Ernst van Rhyn replacing the England international in Sale’s back row.
A few match facts:
• Harlequins four-game unbeaten run in the Gallagher Premiership ended with their 28-47 reversal at Bath in Round 13.
• The Londoners home record at the Twickenham Stoop in Premiership Rugby this season is won three, lost two.
• Sale Sharks have won their last two Gallagher Premiership matches since their 23-32 defeat at home to Bath in Round 11.
• The Sharks have won twice on the road in Premiership Rugby this campaign, beating Bristol in Round 9 and Newcastle in Round 12.
• Sale have lost just two of their last eight meetings with Harlequins in Premiership Rugby whilst the Sharks have won on three of their last four visits to the Stoop in all competitions.
Kickoff coming up at 3.05pm.
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