Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre said his side didn't deserve a place in the the Guinness Premiership play-offs.
Sharks boss laments failure to take chances
Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre said his side didn't deserve a place in the the Guinness Premiership play-offs after they lost at home to London Irish - and lost out to Leicester in the race to finish in the top four.
The Sharks began the day in fourth place and knew that victory would assure them of staying there and possibly finish as high as second, depending on other results.
But Saint-Andre's men - who were crowned Premiership champions two years ago - produced a poor display when it mattered, allowing Leicester to leapfrog them into the all-important fourth spot.
The Sharks were 12-0 down at the break after a half in which they were outwitted, outfought and above all outpaced by the impressive Exiles.
And despite a second-half try, their 17-7 home defeat left Saint-Andre frustrated.
"Today we didn't turn up," he said.
"It was an opportunity to get to a play-off semi-final but we don't deserve it after that.
"In the first half we had seven or eight opportunities in their 22, but we lost the ball straight away.
"We knew they had match-winners but when you create seven or eight opportunities of your own and don't take them then you don't deserve to be in the semi-final."
Nevertheless, after finishing 10th last season following an injury-ravaged campaign, Saint-Andre said that fifth represented a noteable improvement.
"At least we finished fifth and are in the Heineken Cup," he added.
"That is a bonus but to finish the season like this is clearly very disappointing for us.
"I don't know why we didn't perform. Sometimes we seem think we are better than we actually are."
Woeful
London Irish scored two first-half tries courtesy of wing Topsy Ojo and centre Seilala Mapusua - their opponents woefully bereft of ideas and inspiration.
Mapusua claimed his second in the closing stages and although replacement Chris Bell replied late on for Sale, the hosts had long since surrendered the points.
Irish even had two men - replacement Richard Thorpe and captain Bob Casey - sinbinned in the final quarter but still Sale could not take advantage.
The visitors gave a fine display of counter-attacking rugby with Eoghan Hickey and Paul Hodgson combining well at half-back, and Shane Geraghty providing guile and craft from inside centre.
Exiles director of rugby Brian Smith - whose side finished a creditable seventh - said: "To come here and win with 13 men on the pitch at one stage was so courageous.
"It's a shame that we're not going to be in the Heineken Cup but we're going to give the European Challenge Cup one hell of a bloody go."
Coach Toby Booth added: "We're a young side which is probably evolving and getting towards its prime. Half of it is a mental belief and that was probably our best performance of the year."
