sport news Sale 37-31 Harlequins: Raffi Quirke's 'Hollywood brilliance' keeps hosts in ... trends now

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England scrum-half Raffi Quirke and his evolving brand of ‘Hollywood brilliance’ helped Sale fend off a dangerous Harlequins fightback to stay in the hunt for a place in the Premiership play-offs.

The 22-year-old has endured two years of injury turmoil, disrupting his early-career momentum, but he has already proved his credentials as a match-winner at Test level and did the same for his club on Sunday. Having led 25-10 just after half-time in a win-or-bust game, the Sharks had seen their lead reduced to a point when Quirke burst off the bench and made his mark.

In 2021, he was in the right place at the right time to score a match-winning try against South Africa at Twickenham and this time, he was well-placed to capitalise on a telling intervention by fellow replacement Tom O’Flaherty. 

The wing charged down Andre Esterhuizen’s attempted clearance from the re-start – after Oscar Beard’s try had made it 25-24 – and Quirke chased through to touch down, before being mobbed.

He continued to make his presence felt on his 50th appearance for Sale, despite box kicks flying short and long in the wind – reclaiming one himself and seeing O’Flaherty seize another, in the build-up to Arron Reed’s try 16 minutes from time, which ultimately proved decisive.