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Toulouse turned the screw after trailing at the break - Getty Images/David Rogers
Toulouse 38 Sale 15
It took a wonderful, weaving solo try from Ange Capuozzo with five minutes remaining for Toulouse to finally shake off Sale Sharks on a madcap afternoon and move their defence of the Investec Champions Cup to the quarter-final stage.
Capuozzo fielded a Sale clearance and darted 40 metres through dark blue shirts in thrilling fashion, diving underneath the posts. He injured his right leg in the act, which followed the theme of a quite brutal contest.
Tom Curry had left the action midway through the first half, seeming to clutch his wrist as he winced in pain. The breakdown battle was predictably savage, with Ben Curry outstanding for Sale and Jack Willis emerging victorious as the official player of the match.
Andy Farrell, the British and Irish Lions head coach, will have been a captivated observer. Goodness knows how he will filter his back-row options before announcing a squad on May 8.
Toulouse, without their talisman Antoine Dupont, were stifled for long periods yet prevailed by five tries to two. Stodginess was interspersed by flashes of customary brilliance that proved enough for them to progress.
Kick-off was delayed by 40 minutes because of a horribly dangerous malfunction regarding the pre-match entertainment. Parachutists swooped into Stade de Toulouse but the third of them, Trouille Yannick, was caught in the awning way above the ground. Hanging helplessly for close to half an hour, he had to be rescued by the fire brigade.
After the truly bizarre delay, which travelled from comical to concerning very quickly, came a blistering start. George Ford spotted space in the opening seconds but overcooked a dink towards the corner. From the ensuing line-out, Blair Kinghorn blasted down the left flank.
Despite a superb cover tackle from Tom Curry and one scruffy pass, the hosts retained possession. Thomas Ramos skipped close, Emmanuel Meafou powered on and Willis dotted down from close range.
Ben Curry led the response, shrugging off Willis with a strong midfield surge. Gus Warr and Ford directed some neat phase play and Luke James finished. Ford could not convert.
Sale scrap viciously at the breakdown and Luke Cowan-Dickie earned a penalty by burrowing to contest. Within seconds, in the very next sequence, Willis won back a turnover. The adoring Toulouse crowd roar whenever he straddles a prone opponent. Usually, that means their team is about to regain the ball or be awarded a penalty.
Alex Sanderson’s charge had to scramble and enjoyed a stroke of fortune when Ramos could not quite catch up with Capuozzo’s grubber, but were scrummaging robustly and defending with steel. They went ahead through Ford when Emmanuel Meafou offended brainlessly at the breakdown.
The latter, a hulking lock presence with deft passing skills, initiated an attack that saw Willis charge into open space and over the top of Ford. Sale recovered, though, and Tom Curry stole the ball. That would prove his last act, though, as he withdrew in some discomfort. Sam Dugdale arrived and had a turnover of his own seconds later.
Sale were fighting hard as a collective and Romain Ntamack spilled Ford’s high ball to foreshadow their second try. Ford zipped away from a mangled scrum and fed Arron Reed, with Warr jigging away from tacklers and Jonny Hill finding himself on the end of a string of neat passes to stretch over.
Cowan-Dickie was collared for a no-arms tackle, allowing Ramos to cut the deficit. A blade of grass and several replays then denied Tom Roebuck, the wing’s studs adjudged to have brushed the touchline as he gathered a kick through from Rob du Preez.
Ford, the calming conductor, aimed two drop-goals in a bid to keep the scoreboard ticking. Though both missed, Sale will have been satisfied with their first 40 minutes.
An assured opening to the second half felt vital but Toulouse drew blood when a clever line-out peel sent Francois Cros arcing around the front to score. Ramos’ touchline conversion gave his team the lead.
Miraculous defence from Sale kept the score at 17-15. Capuozzo and Willis broke from a loose ball into the shadow of the Sharks posts before Cowan-Dickie showed formidable strength to dump Meafou backwards. Asher Opoku-Fordjour dived to force a fumble out of Paul Graou, too. And then the Sale scrum popped Toulouse to win a penalty.
A moment of sheer quality from Ntamack, who hit a delightful 50:22 with the outside of his boot, caused Sale to buckle. Julien Marchand benefited from the short-range line-out and a conversion from Ramos meant Sharks looked in danger of fading away.
To their credit, Sale summoned one more rally, but Capuozzo’s brilliant score finally snuffed out a fiercely tenacious challenge. Capuozzo covered his face with both hands as he was stretchered off, evidently distraught. The Italy star will not make a mouth-watering tie against Toulon at Stade Mayol.
Toulouse extended their advantage through Guilluame Cramont after Kinghorn had chased down a long hack ahead, which gave the scoreline the impression of a comfortable win. In truth, the whole event had been anything but routine.
Match details
Scoring: 5-0 Willis try, 7-0 Ramos conversion, 7-5 James try, 7-8 Ford penalty, 7-13 Hill try, 7-15 Ford conversion, 10-15 Ramos penalty, 15-15 Cros try, 17-15 Ramos conversion, 22-15 Marchand try, 24-15 Ramos conversion, 29-15 Capuozzo try, 31-15 Ramos conversion, 36-15 Cramont try, 38-15 Ramos conversion
Toulouse: T Ramos; A Capuozzo (M Castro-Ferreira, 75), P-L Barassi, P Ahki (P Costes, 72), B Kinghorn; R Ntamack (J-C Mallia, 65), P Graou; D Ainu’u (R Neti, 49), J Marchand (G Cramont, 61), D Aldegheri (J Merkler, 49), T Flament, E Meafou (C Verge, 61), F Cros, J Willis, A Roumat (A Jelonch, 56)
Sale Sharks: L James; T Roebuck (T O’Flaherty, 71), R du Preez, R Ma’asi-White, A Reed; G Ford, G Warr (N Thomas, 60); S McIntyre (R Harrison, 57), L Cowan-Dickie (T McElroy, 74), A Opoku-Fordjour ( W John, 57)), E van Rhyn, J Hill (B Bamber, 70), T Curry (S Dugdale, 24), B Curry (H Andrews, 70), J-L du Preez
05:51 PM BST
Alex Sanderson speaking to Premier Sports
05:42 PM BST
Semi-final draw (ties to be played on the weekend 2/3/4 May)
Bordeaux/Munster v Toulon/Toulouse
Leinster/Glasgow v Northampton/Castres
05:41 PM BST
Reaction from Sale captain Ben Curry
05:37 PM BST
Capuozzo’s try and subsequent injury
05:37 PM BST
Quarter-final draw (to be played next weekend)
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
Northampton Saints v Castres
Bordeaux v Munster
Toulon v Toulouse
05:36 PM BST
Champions Cup last-16 fixtures
Friday:
Northampton Saints 46-24 Clermont
Yesterday:
Toulon 72-42 Saracens
Castres 39-37 Benetton
Leinster 62-0 Harlequins
La Rochelle 24-25 Munster
Glasgow Warriors 43-19 Leicester Tigers
Today:
Bordeaux-Begles 43-31 Ulster
Toulouse 38-15 Sale Sharks
05:34 PM BST
Full time
The pass goes forward from Toulouse on the Sale 22 and that will be that. Toulouse have beaten Sale 38-15 and will play away at Toulon next weekend in the quarter-finals. Sale were right in that game through 60 minutes but probably just ran out of a bit of steam and Toulouse just had too much for Alex Sanderson’s men.
05:31 PM BST
TRY! Cramont gets Toulouse’s fifth
Toulouse turn the ball over right on the Sale line and, a few phases later, go over through replacement hooker Cramont. Not sure it was particularly legal the way Toulouse forced the turnover. Ramos gets the conversion.
05:30 PM BST
77 mins: Toulouse 31 Sale 15
Toulouse steal possession inside their own half and kick ahead towards the Sale line. It is a foot race between Reed and Kinghorn to get to it and Reed gets to it first...
05:27 PM BST
76 mins: Toulouse 31 Sale 15
After a lengthy delay, Capuozzo is taken off a stretcher and there is clearly some concern over this injury. The stadium had fallen very quiet during the treatment. Plenty of concerned faces from the Toulouse players and fans as Capuozzo has his head in his hands.
05:23 PM BST
75 mins: Toulouse 31 Sale 15
The scoring of that try has also come at a cost for Sale as O’Flaherty, in the process of making that tackle, has injured himself and Roebuck is back on.
05:22 PM BST
TRY! Capuozzo scores sublime solo try
What a finish from the livewire Italian but Sale will be very disappointed with that. He catches a high ball on halfway and dances his way through the tackle of Harrison, who should make the tackle. He sprints towards the line and, despite the best efforts of O’Flaherty, goes over under the posts. That is game, set and match as the easiest of conversions is landed. It has come at a cost for the hosts though as a stretcher has come on for Capuozzo.
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Ange Capuozzo over but in some pain - David Rogers/Getty Images
05:19 PM BST
NO TRY!
Capuozzo’s foot was clearly in touch in the build-up to the try so the try is chalked off.
05:18 PM BST
TRY! Merkler over to seal it for Toulouse
That feels like game, set and match but they do need to check whether Toulouse went into touch down the right. The TMO is stepping in as it appeared Capuozzo was in touch before offloading inside.
05:15 PM BST
71 mins: Toulouse 24 Sale 15
Sale have it in the Toulouse 22 and R du Preez tries to pick out Roebuck with a crossfield kick but he gets it all wrong and kicks it straight into touch. That was the wrong option and he knows it. Roebuck is coming off and is being replaced by O’Flaherty.
05:13 PM BST
69 mins: Toulouse 24 Sale 15
Toulouse boot the ball out on the full so Sale will have the lineout on the Toulouse 22. Sale probably should have been given a penalty moments before for the escorting line but they have a lineout now anyway.
05:11 PM BST
67 mins: Toulouse 24 Sale 15
Toulouse make good ground towards the Sale 22 but Roebuck makes a great interception from a Mallia pass as the hosts came down the blindside.
05:09 PM BST
65 mins: Toulouse 24 Sale 15
It shows the strength in depth of this Toulouse squad that they can bring Mallia on as he replaces Ntamack. Presumably Ramos will move from 15 to 10 and Mallia will come on at full-back.
05:08 PM BST
64 mins: Toulouse 24 Sale 15
That feels like poetic justice as Sale win a scrum penalty.
05:07 PM BST
63 mins: Toulouse 24 Sale 15
That is a terrible decision. Toulouse are given a scrum as the ball is trapped in a ruck on Sale ball but it was so clear that the Toulouse players were crawling through the ruck on their hands. How has the referee not seen that stood just a few metres away? It gives Toulouse a scrum in a good attacking position.
05:03 PM BST
60 mins: Toulouse 24 Sale 15
Sale have brought on Thomas for Warr at scrum-half.
05:03 PM BST
TRY! Marchand powers over
Toulouse have a lineout deep in the Sale 22 and the visitors do just enough to stop them just short of the line. A few phases later though there is no stopping Marchand from close range. Sale were appealing for a knock on but there was no knock on there.
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Toulouse are the defending champions in this competition - Valentine Chapuis/Getty Images
04:53 PM BST
51 mins: Toulouse 17 Sale 15
Sale are given a penalty just inside the Toulouse half moments after a great catch by Reed from a high kick. Sale will kick into the Toulouse 22.
However Cowan-Dickie overshoots Hill at the lineout and Toulouse hoof the ball downfield.
04:52 PM BST
49 mins: Toulouse 17 Sale 15
Toulouse are bringing off both of their starting props as Neti and Merkler replace Ainuu and Aldegheri.
04:49 PM BST
48 mins: Toulouse 17 Sale 15
Toulouse get lucky with a bounce in the middle of the pitch and Capuozzo races towards the Sale 22. He offloads inside to Willis, who is brought down five metres out. After a big hit from Cowan-Dickie on Meafou, Graou tries to dive for the line but loses the ball forward and knocks on.
Sale’s pack does a great job at the scrum and they win a penalty under their own sticks.
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One Englishman carrying into another - David Rogers/Getty Images
04:46 PM BST
TRY! Cros powers way over
Toulouse get a try early in this second half. They win the lineout and come down the blindside. Cros powers his way through the tackles of Warr and Reed and scores to bring Toulouse level ahead of the conversion. Ramos lands a tough conversion and Toulouse take the lead.
04:46 PM BST
45 mins: Toulouse 10 Sale 15
James is penalised for kicking the ball in the ruck just inside his own 22 and and Toulouse will kick into the corner.
04:44 PM BST
43 mins: Toulouse 10 Sale 15
Kinghorn puts a kick ahead down the left touchline into the Sale 22 but Reed does well to gather under pressure. After a couple of phases, Ford clears.
04:41 PM BST
Second half
We are back under way in Toulouse.
04:34 PM BST
Quarter-final draw (ties to be played on the weekend 11/12/13 April)
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
Northampton Saints v Castres
Bordeaux v Munster
Toulon v Toulouse or Sale Sharks
04:31 PM BST
Champions Cup last-16 fixtures
Friday:
Northampton Saints 46-24 Clermont
Yesterday:
Toulon 72-42 Saracens
Castres 39-37 Benetton
Leinster 62-0 Harlequins
La Rochelle 24-25 Munster
Glasgow Warriors 43-19 Leicester Tigers
Today:
Bordeaux-Begles 43-31 Ulster
Toulouse 10-15 Sale Sharks HT
04:26 PM BST
Half time
Toulouse kick the ball into touch deep in their own 22 and at the break Sale lead 10-15.
04:24 PM BST
39 mins: Toulouse 10 Sale 15
Ford goes for another lomg-range drop goal but misses.
04:23 PM BST
NO TRY!
Roebuck is adjudged to be just in touch as he gathered the ball. It was probably the right decision but boy it was close and was there enough evidence to overturn the original decision. Maybe, maybe not. No surprise that they reviewed that one to death because it could have resulted in Toulouse conceding a try yet there have been some other calls that have not been checked at all.
04:21 PM BST
TRY! Roebuck in for Sale’s third
This has been a fantastic first-half performance from Sale and they have their third try of the game. Sale make good ground into the Toulouse 22 and get quick ball down the blindside. R du Preez puts a cute little grubber kick through and Roebuck gathers to score in the corner. But the TMO is checking to see if Roebuck was in touch as he gathered the kick...
04:20 PM BST
36 mins: Toulouse 10 Sale 15
B Curry charges down a kick from Kinghorn near the Toulouse line that fortunately for the home side goes dead.
04:19 PM BST
PENALTY TOULOUSE!
It is an easy three points for Ramos and Sale’s lead is cut to five points.
04:18 PM BST
35 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 15
Toulouse win the lineout but Sale nearly manage to force the maul into touch. The ball goes into the hands of the backs but goes to ground and Toulouse have lost some ground. Sale are then penalised for a dangerous tackle from Cowan-Dickie. We have just seen a replay and that is a poor decision as Cowan-Dickie did try to wrap. Anyway Toulouse point to the posts...
04:16 PM BST
33 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 15
Toulouse make good ground down the left into the Sale 22 and B Curry thinks he has stolen the ball at the breakdown but is adjudged to have come in from the side. Toulouse go to the corner.
04:14 PM BST
TRY! Hill stretches out to extend Sale’s lead
Sale have their second of the game. It is a well-worked move off the scrum and Reed looked like he might run through to score but is brought down 10 metres out. Sale go through a few more phases as they get closer to the line and then Hill manages to stretch out to score despite three Toulouse defenders being all around him. That was a top finish and he did really well not to knock on. Ford gets the conversion and Sale lead by eight points.
04:13 PM BST
29 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 8
Two Englishman on opposing sides get into a bit of scrap after a scrum reset as B Curry and Willis come to blows but it is all smiles fairly quickly. Sale looked like they had done enough to win the scrum penalty but not to be.
04:11 PM BST
28 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 8
Ford’s high kick to the edge of the Toulouse 22 is knocked on by Ntamack under pressure from Reed so Sale will have the scrum on the fringes of the Toulouse 22.
04:10 PM BST
27 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 8
From a goal-line drop out, Ford catches on halfway and lines up a drop kick. His effort goes just wide of the left post but a decent effort nonetheless.
04:08 PM BST
25 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 8
Really good defensive set from Sale as Dugdale, only just on the pitch, gets over the ball well at the ruck and wins the visitors a penalty.
04:06 PM BST
24 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 8
Toulouse move towards the Sale 22 but T Curry does brilliantly at the breakdown. Sale are then adjudged to have knocked on but they can feel a little aggrieved that T Curry was not rewarded with a penalty.
Sale have been forced into a change as T Curry is going off with a wrist injury. Dugdale is on in his place.
04:03 PM BST
PENALTY SALE!
Ford lands the three points and Sale move into the lead just past the 20-minute mark.
04:03 PM BST
20 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 5
Sale are given a penalty as Toulouse are punished for not rolling away. There also looked to be a high tackle from Meafou on Ford but not given. Sale have pointed to the posts...
04:00 PM BST
18 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 5
Toulouse are penalised for crossing just inside the Sale half. Ford kicks into the Toulouse 22. After a string of strong carries, Sale are just over five metres out from the Toulouse line but Graou steals possession rather illegally it looked but watching the replays it looked just legal. There also looked like an illegal tackle over the horizontal that was not given. We are seeing no replays of those types of incidents which would be the complete opposite if the shoe was on the other foot.
03:58 PM BST
16 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 5
Roebuck is penalised for contact on Ramos in the air but that is incredibly harsh. Roebuck went up legitimately for the high ball but is penalised.
03:57 PM BST
15 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 5
Sale win the scrum penalty on their own feed and can clear their lines.
03:55 PM BST
13 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 5
Toulouse have the ball inside the Sale 22 after a strong carry from Barassi but a few phases later the ball is knocked on at the breakdown by scrum-half Graou.
03:54 PM BST
12 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 5
Toulouse think they might have their second try of the match but it will not stand. The grubber kick is put through by Capuozzo down the right touchline and Ramos tries to dot it down but knocks it on and it hit the whitewash anyway so no try.
03:52 PM BST
11 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 5
Willis causes a nuisance at the breakdown after a carry from Ma’asi-White and wins the hosts a penalty.
03:50 PM BST
10 mins: Toulouse 7 Sale 5
Toulouse are in possession just inside the Sale half after winning a free-kick at a scrum but the hosts are penalised for a neck roll. Ford kicks into the Toulouse 22.
03:45 PM BST
TRY! L James hits back for the visitors
Sale respond immediately. With their first period of possession they take advantage and score. They have possession inside the Toulouse 22 after a series of strong carries and then send it wide out to the right. James runs a good line, gets out of a tackle and finds his way over. Ford misses his conversion.
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The visitors respond quickly - David Rogers/Getty Images
03:44 PM BST
TRY! Toulouse power over through Willis
The hosts score inside two minutes but there was surely a forward pass in the build-up to Kinghorn down the left wing. The ball went to ground twice but Toulouse keep possession. They are just inches short of the line and Willis then burrows his way over. Ramos lands the conversion and Toulouse lead 7-0. We are yet to see a replay of the potential forward pass but, unsurprisingly, that is because the French TV directors will not want to show a replay when it was Toulouse who scored.
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Toulouse have an early lead - Valentine Chapuis/Getty Images
03:40 PM BST
Kick-off
We are under way in Toulouse.
03:39 PM BST
Here we go
Both sides finally emerge into the Toulouse sunshine and we are nearly ready to get going.
03:37 PM BST
Finally kick-off is nearly upon us
We should have been under way over 30 minutes ago but after a fairly lengthy delay, we are nearly at kick-off in the Toulouse sunshine. We will get going in just a few minutes time.
03:33 PM BST
Kick-off further delayed
It is perhaps no surprise that the new kick-off of 3.30pm has not happened. The parachutist is safely down now but we will need to wait a little longer until the game begins. Both teams have been back out on the pitch to do some more warm-ups as it has now been more than half an hour since we were supposed to start.
03:29 PM BST
Down safely
03:19 PM BST
Update from Toulouse
03:11 PM BST
New kick-off time
All things going well, kick-off will be at 3.30pm but that could be subject to change.
03:08 PM BST
Still delayed
No word yet on when the game might actually kick off but obviously the immediate concern is making sure the parachutist gets down safely from a rather precarious position.
03:06 PM BST
Toulouse coach Jerome Kaino speaking to Premier Sports
03:00 PM BST
Delay to kick-off
02:55 PM BST
Alex Sanderson speaking to Premier Sports
02:54 PM BST
Reminder of the teams
Toulouse starting XV: Ramos; Capuozzo, Barassi, Ahki, Kinghorn; Ntamack, Graou; Ainu’u, Marchand (capt), Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Willis, Roumat.
Replacements: Cramont, Neti, Merkler, Verge, Jelonch, Castro-Ferreira, Mallia, Costes.
Sale Sharks starting XV: L James; Roebuck, R du Preez (co-capt), Ma’asi-White, Reed; Ford, Warr; McIntyre, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Van Rhyn, Hill, T Curry, B Curry (co-capt), JL du Preez.
Replacements:McElroy, Harrison, John, Andrews, Bamber, Dugdale, Thomas, O’Flaherty.
02:50 PM BST
Preparations ramping up
02:48 PM BST
Get your fix
02:42 PM BST
Visitors in the house
02:36 PM BST
Recent results
Sale:
Friday 21st March: Newcastle 15-39 Sale (Premiership)
Friday 28th March: Sale 27-24 Northampton (Premiership)
Toulouse:
Saturday 29th March: Toulouse 55-10 Pau (Top 14)
Sunday 23rd March: Bordeaux 32-24 Toulouse (Top 14)
02:32 PM BST
Toulouse results in the Champions Cup group stages
Game one- Toulouse 61-21 Ulster
Game two- Exeter 21-64 Toulouse
Game three- Sharks 8-20 Toulouse
Game four- Toulouse 80-12 Leicester
02:29 PM BST
Sale results in the Champions Cup group stages
Game one- Glasgow 38-19 Sale
Game two- Sale 29-7 Racing 92
Game three- Stormers 40-0 Sale
Game four- Sale 33-7 Toulon
02:27 PM BST
Quarter-final draw (ties to be played on the weekend 11/12/13 April)
Bordeaux-Begles v Munster
Toulon v Toulouse/Sale Sharks
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
Northampton Saints v Castres
02:21 PM BST
Atmosphere building in Toulouse
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A place in the Champions Cup quarter-finals awaits one of these two sides - David Rogers/Getty Images
02:17 PM BST
Champions Cup last-16 fixtures
Friday:
Northampton Saints 46-24 Clermont
Yesterday:
Toulon 72-42 Saracens
Castres 39-37 Benetton
Leinster 62-0 Harlequins
La Rochelle 24-25 Munster
Glasgow Warriors 43-19 Leicester Tigers
Today:
Bordeaux-Begles 43-31 Ulster
Toulouse v Sale Sharks 3pm
02:10 PM BST
Hosts arriving
02:05 PM BST
Teams
Toulouse starting XV: Ramos; Capuozzo, Barassi, Ahki, Kinghorn; Ntamack, Graou; Ainu’u, Marchand (capt), Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Willis, Roumat.
Replacements: Cramont, Neti, Merkler, Verge, Jelonch, Castro-Ferreira, Mallia, Costes.
Sale Sharks starting XV: L James; Roebuck, R du Preez (co-capt), Ma’asi-White, Reed; Ford, Warr; McIntyre, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Van Rhyn, Hill, T Curry, B Curry (co-capt), JL du Preez.
Replacements: McElroy, Harrison, John, Andrews, Bamber, Dugdale, Thomas, O’Flaherty.
02:00 PM BST
Quarter-final place at stake
Sale head to France in the Champions Cup last 16 for one of club rugby’s toughest challenges; an away match at defending champions Toulouse. Sale come into this afternoon’s game off the back of consecutive wins in the Premiership after the Six Nations break. They beat Newcastle away before beating Northampton nine days ago, which leaves them in fifth in the Premiership, just one place and two points off the play-offs. During the pool stages, Alex Sanderson’s side beat two French sides, Racing 92 and Toulon at home, to finish third in pool four.
Sale welcome back captain Ben Curry after his mandatory rest last week but are without the injured pair of Joe Carpenter and Bevan Rodd. Speaking earlier this week, Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson said that he could not wait for the game but knows his side are going to have to be at the top of their game today.
“If this does not excite you then there are few in the calendar that do. They are very good at a lot of things and the best at a few, which we have highlighted. We feel a lot of our game model and skill-set is well-suited to negate a lot of their strengths. This group is never better than when they are written off. For good reason we are massive underdogs going out there. This is the time of the season where you have got to find form and keep it. What better place to find that away form than Toulouse away.
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Alex Sanderson’s men beat two French sides in the Champions Cup pool stages - David Rogers/Getty Images
“Physically we have the mentality and ability to match them pound-for-pound at the gain line and set-piece. Where Toulouse can undo you is if you switch off for a moment they will force you to chase shadows and physicality does not even come to the fore. It will need the best of us. We will knuckle down and match up.”
Toulouse, who have won the Champions Cup on a record six occasions, beat Pau last time out in the Top 14, which has them sat top of the table, five points clear of second-place Bordeaux. They won all four of their group stage games, including hugely-dominant wins over English clubs Exeter and Leicester. The winner of this match will face Toulon, who beat Saracens yesterday, in the quarter-finals.
Kick-off in Toulouse is at 3pm.
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