Saint-Andre hails 'fantastic finish'

12:50pm Tuesday 17th April 2007

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JASON Robinson's remarkable last-gasp try in his final game for Sale Sharks may have come as a shock to most onlookers, but not to the club's director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre.

The Sale captain's score five seconds from time not only sealed victory over Bath, it ensured a fairytale ending to his club career - one that for much of the game had appeared extremely unlikely.

But reflecting on that moment after the game, a grinning Saint-Andre just shrugged. "It's typical Jason Robinson," he said.

"When you think you've lost the game, we put in two good passes and he arrived doing what he does best. He showed good timing, hit the line in space and we scored.

"Not a lot of players would finish that chance.

"It's a fantastic finish for Jason. I'm very pleased for him that we won because we don't win things generally and he deserved to finish with Sale with a win."

Asked if Robinson would still have taken the following conversion if Sale had been trailing rather than leading 25-23, however, the Frenchman remained tight-lipped.

"I don't know if he'd have taken it," he laughed.

"But for once we were one or two points in front and the game was finished so that's good.

"Jason has practiced kicking a lot in training and you can see the last kick was a good kick. It wasn't easy but it was close."

Although Robinson has now retired from the club game, he will have his rugby swansong at this autumn's World Cup in France.

But Saint-Andre still held out a faint hope the 32-year-old may be tempted back to Edgeley Park.

"If he's bored after the World Cup and if he wants to play a few games with us he'll be welcome," joked the Sale chief.

"We will miss him on the pitch but also a lot more. His leadership, his charisma, his professionalism, when he speaks people listen to him.

"It will be hard losing him."