5 Sale Sharks players in contention for 2026 Six Nations call-ups after Champions Cup delight

During the game’s early exchanges, the Durban based outfit showed their power dominating the close quarters, that helps when you have a two time world cup winning prop in Vincent Koch packing down. The visitors made the most of their muscular dominance with Siya Masuku gaining an early lead. 0-3.

The hosts replied imminently showing their power game. A lineout maul defended only for Sale to show their patience. A delicate pass from George Ford on his 50^th appearance for the Manchester based side to Rekeiti Ma’asi-White found the weak line in the travelling side’s defence to score the first try of the game. Ford added the extras to extend Sale’s lead to 7-3.

Neither side could get a significant foothold in the game after those early points despite the rugby being open, flamboyant and chaotic from both parties with the sides going into the sheds at 7-3.

Sale opened the scoring in the second half after 10 minutes with a driving maul try. England prop Bevan Rodd receiving all the pats on the back for his effort in scoring the try. Ford made his compatriot’s try into a full seven pointer. 14-3. The hosts kept their foot on the gas as a few minutes later Tom O’Flaherty went over to score Sale’s third try of the evening after gorgeous interplay amongst the backline – a Joe Ford masterclass with the attack clicking like that. George Ford missed the kick leaving it at 19-3.

At the hour mark, the visitors scored their first try of the game through Manu Tshituka. The flanker burst through the normally watertight Sale defence before stepping the covering George Ford. Masuku added the extras to close the gap to 19-10.

Sale immediately responded though as O’Flaherty found the try line after a Joe Carpenter break to secure the bonus point for Alex Sanderson’s side. Ford’s right boot added the conversion restoring the hosts 16 point lead.

Speaking after the game, Sanderson was extremely happy with his side’s performance with “a lot going right in the first half with the gameplan with high ball in play and high tempo” despite the lack of points in that period. Moreover, Sanderson then stated that the gameplan was to be high intensity and “for a team that prides themselves on physicality, fatigue drains that physicality out of the best of teams.”

The Sale Director of Rugby was also thrilled with the fact his side are through to the knockouts with a game to spare and arguably they have their toughest affair the next week against Toulouse in the cauldron of a ground.

On his 50^th Sale appearance, George Ford controlled the game magnificently and directed Sale around the park. There is no wonder that the local lad has over a century of caps for his country.

Despite not playing a lot of rugby this season, Carpenter is the future of the 15 jersey for England and arguably is the best mix of Steward and Furbank – as he has Steward’s arial ability with Furbank’s attacking threat. He dictated the air space and controlled the back field in a busy backfield.

Only playing 50 minutes in aid of his preservation, the England and Lions flanker was at his best. A threat at the breakdown, physical and winding people up, Curry was as per, impeccable.

A rogue shout here but hear me out. The young second rower is pivotal for Sale’s set piece success. A player who is happy to do the dirty work whilst dictating the lineout, he is the future of England’s second row too – not bad for a former rugby league player.

Granted he isn’t the first choice scrum half for Scotland, the young scrum half links the forwards and the backs perfectly. Effervescent around the breakdown with a kicking game most scrum halves dream of. Warr was at his usual best and has really thrown his name in the mix for Gregor Townsend to consider.