Rugby: Sale look to Robinson

Sale will be hoping for another Jason Robinson wonder show when they target a place in the Premiership play-offs tomorrow.

The England super-sub produced an exceptional performance during the Sharks’ 43-18 midweek destruction of play-off rivals London Irish.

Former Wigan and Great Britain rugby league star Robinson scored a try and tormented the Irish defence through an exhilarating exhibition that strengthened his Lions claims in front of watching selection advisers John Rutherford and John O’Driscoll.

Sale coach Jim Mallinder claims the Lions would be foolish not to take Robinson Down Under this summer, where world champions Australia await in a three-Test series.

The Lions squad will be announced on April 25, so Robinson has one last chance to impress this weekend in Sale’s vital league clash with Wasps at Heywood Road.

A Sale victory would guarantee them play-off status and a trip to Premiership champions Leicester on April 28.

But should they come unstuck against an in-form Wasps outfit, who will finish second behind the Tigers if they avoid defeat tomorrow, then Sale face an agonising 48-hour wait before knowing their fate.

Irish could still overhaul them by beating Gloucester on Easter Monday, while outsiders Bristol need to collect a maximum five points against Memorial Stadium visitors Northampton the same afternoon and hope that both Sale and Irish lose.

Wasps’ motivation is simple. Second place not only guarantees a home play-off quarter-final, but they would also be at Loftus Road in the last four.

Any mistakes tomorrow and Bath, who visit relegated Rotherham, are likely to pip them for the runners-up spot.

‘‘We know that Wasps will want to win to increase their chances of making the play-off final, but we will also be giving it 100%. It should be a great game,’’ Mallinder said.

Mallinder retains the squad in action earlier this week, while Wasps boss Nigel Melville is similarly determined to see his players finish their bread-and-butter league business on a winning note.

‘‘We know that we need a draw or better at Sale to get home advantage in the play-offs, and we are going all out for the win,’’ he said.

Wasps will arrive in the north west following a 38-19 London derby triumph over Harlequins three days ago, when a Loftus Road record rugby crowd of 12,000 saw them cut loose.

‘‘We scored four tries in the first 30 minutes, which was some of the best rugby we’ve played all season,’’ added Wasps fly-half Alex King, who bagged two touchdowns.

Bath, favourites to reap a five-point maximum at Rotherham, can only hope that a Robinson-inspired Sale finish on top and give them a probable home play-off semi-final against Wasps, rather than the other way around.

With centres Kevin Maggs and Mike Tindall out through injury, Shaun Berne and Sam Cox form Bath’s midfield partnership, while ex-England internationals Ben Clarke and Phil de Glanville are among the replacements.

Rotherham say farewell to the Premiership this weekend, having justified bookmakers’ pre-season odds that they would finish bottom.

But after suffering an injury-time 39-36 defeat against Clifton Lane visitors Newcastle on Tuesday night, the Yorkshire club are determined to try and bow out on a high.

‘‘We came so close against Newcastle, and if the lads play like they did in the first 60 minutes of that match, then they could pull off a shock,’’ said Rotherham team manager Jim Kilfoyle.

Leicester will enjoy a title party at Welford Road tomorrow, offering a little light relief before tackling Heineken Cup semi-final opponents Gloucester next weekend.

The Tigers, crowned champions last month, take on Harlequins, whose focus is also of a European nature, given their Shield semi-final appointment with Newcastle on Sunday week.

Quins are hoping tournament organisers will allow club Under-21 hooker Johnny Rodham to act as bench cover for Keith Wood, given a serious ankle injury suffered by Samoan Tani Fuga.

Without Rodham, who has not figured in Quins’ European plans this season, they cannot fulfill the minimum five front-row forwards’ requirement in their matchday squad.

Sunday’s league action sees Saracens, complete with Premiership debutant Jannie De Beer, hosting Newcastle in a shoot-out for fifth place, before those Easter Monday games at Irish and Bristol conclude the league season.