The Sharks had not recruited the England outside-half to play a bit part role and nor has he. Neither has du Preez who will on Saturday make his 55th consecutive start in the Premiership when Sale face Bath in the playoff semi-final at the Recreation Ground
Ford’s debut for Sale last season was delayed by injury. Du Preez, capped by South Africa against Wales in 2018, carried on at outside-half and made such an impact that not only was he named in the Premiership’s team of the season but kept his place in the side when Ford returned to fitness five months into the campaign.
Du Preez switched to outside-centre, the position he has occupied for 12 league matches this season, starting at outside-half in the six games when Ford was unavailable. The last time Sale named a 23 without him was in October 2021.
“I am fortunate not to have picked up any serious injuries,” said du Preez, who joined Sale on loan from the Durban-based Sharks in 2018 and made the move permanent the following year. “I have had a few niggles, but nothing you cannot deal with.
“I do not care about position, I just want to play. In the past, I would have preferred outside-half but I have come round to being a centre in the last year or two. You are doing the same things one channel out. Having a second playmaker works well. I know what the fly-half likes in terms of communication and the information he is giving. I can deliver that and with carriers like Manu Tuilagi and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, we can do a lot with front football.”
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