STEVE DIAMOND and Mike Ford lauded the performance of the back-row after they helped snuff out the threat of Justin Marshall and co on Sunday.

"They could be anything they want to be," said Ford, the head coach, on the all English triumvirate of Ben Skirving, Alex Sanderson and Dave Seymour. "We've got really high hopes for Skirving in particular but we are really pleased where all three are at the moment."

Diamond, the director of rugby, concurred with the view of his trusty lieutenant: "That back row, with Sanderson the elder statesman at 25, is fantastic for us and what they lack in experience they make up for in enthusiasm.

"Seymour is a young lad who just does as he is told. He was the worst of our back-row today, Skirving and Sanderson were outstanding and Dave was a close third.

"Skirving is 22 and is a big unit. He knows which way north is and picks from the base of a scrum and runs that way. He's a good ball handler and is a good defender."

Diamond though, was particularly pleased for Sanderson, a player he has nurtured since the age of 16.

"He hasn't played for 18 months and most people would have retired and be working in an office now," added Diamond.

"With the amount of injuries he has had we just have to manage him right. He brings to the side something which I feel this club has never had before.

"He's got that extra inch of aggressiveness and nastiness which not a lot of people have. He's not fantastic on the ball but we have got other people who can do that like (Taine) Randell. What we have got in someone like Sanderson, though, is someone who goes out and fights for the cause."