Sale Secures Comprehensive Victory Over Racing with Four Tries

Investec Champions Cup Sale Sharks (12) 29 Tries: JL du Preez, Roebuck, Carpenter, B Curry Cons: R du Preez 3 Pen: R du Preez Racing 92 (7) 7 Tries: Gogichashvili Con: Le Garrec Sale revitalized their Champions Cup campaign by capitalizing on Racing 92’s errors and inconsistencies, achieving a decisive win at Salford Community Stadium. Tries from Jean-Luc du Preez and Tom Roebuck gave the home side a five-point lead at half-time. Joe Carpenter then darted in, and Ben Curry powered over, ensuring the Sharks comfortably closed out the match. Despite home supporters cheering their team, Rob du Preez’s effort to score was disallowed due to a knock-on. However, this did not diminish the profound satisfaction of the evening for coach Alex Sanderson. Having been at the bottom of pool four after failing to secure a losing bonus point in Glasgow during the opening round, Sale now ascends to second place, with other weekend matches yet to be played. The top four teams advance to the last 16, and the top two in each of the four pools will gain home advantage for the knockout stages. The Sharks fulfilled Sanderson’s pre-match challenge to test Racing’s commitment to the competition through their physical play. The persistent Salford drizzle did not enhance the experience for Racing, who had defeated Harlequins at home in the first round, as they delivered an underwhelming performance throughout. Neither team managed to establish dominance for much of the initial quarter, which featured a touchline confrontation between current and former England second-row forwards, Jonny Hill and Junior Kpoku, along with a missed drop-goal attempt from Racing fly-half Dan Lancaster. However, after successfully defending against a similar promising attacking move from Racing, Sale converted territory into points when Jean-Luc du Preez forced his way over near the remnants of a driven line-out. Racing, who have experienced an inconsistent start to their Top 14 season despite being three-time runners-up in this competition, seldom posed a significant threat with their high-value squad. Henry Arundell, ineligible for England after extending his contract with the Parisians post-2023 World Cup, fumbled a straightforward pass. Sale subsequently began to earn scrum penalties against the heavier French pack. Sale’s second try benefited from immaculate set-piece ball provided by the home front row. George Ford executed a loop out the back after Rob du Preez’s run had drawn the defense, and then, via Carpenter, placed Roebuck in the corner, extending Sale’s lead to 12 unanswered points. Racing’s method of scoring was less complex. The visitors relied on their considerable size, with a series of powerful forward drives culminating in prop Guram Gogichashvili breaking through to score just before half-time. Sale accumulated 421 metres with ball in hand, with Roebuck proving particularly dangerous, compared to Racing’s 189 metres. Sale’s advantage was reduced to five points, but they maintained control. Luke Cowan-Dickie was held up over the try line shortly after the restart. Subsequently, an errant kick from Racing’s Antoine Gibert was expertly gathered by Roebuck. The wing then surged forward before precisely setting up Carpenter under the posts for a 19-7 lead. Ben Curry capped a busy performance by powering over for a try. With Racing flanker Maxime Baudonne having been sin-binned for illegally obstructing a Sale attack in the preceding play, the outcome of the game was sealed. The remaining interest largely revolved around the performances of England Test hopefuls. Sale also emerged superior in these individual contests, with Roebuck delivering a powerful tackle that brought Arundell to the ground two minutes before full-time. Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson stated: “We just wanted to be on it for longer defensively this week. I think we were, that was one of our best defensive performances.” He added: “We are a little more connected and we have a little more bite to us when the collision comes, when we have to ‘find the monster’. We were lacking some bite, and I feel like we have it back.” Player of the match Ben Curry commented: “My favourite moment was Tom Roebuck’s tackle on Henry Arundell. Henry is not a small boy, a great player, but I was very impressed with Roebuck tonight, he showed a different side of him which perhaps coaches have questioned. I was really happy for him. ” Curry continued: “The work he puts in day in and day out doesn’t get seen. He is knocking on the door.” He also noted: “He was very disappointed after the summer – he came on against Japan and played really well and to get dropped, hit him really hard. ” Curry concluded: “You can start feeling sorry for yourself or you can show people what you can do. He has gone multiple steps forward since the summer.” Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, R du Preez, James, O’Flaherty; Ford, Warr; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Harper, Bamber, Hill, JL du Preez, B Curry (capt), D du Preez. Replacements: McElroy, McIntyre, John, Beaumont, Dugdale, Quirke, Nayacalevu, Wills. Racing 92: Tedder, Arundell, James, Chavancy, Spring; Lancaster, Le Garrec; Gogichashvili, Chat, Sordoni, Kpoku, Rowlands, Woki (capt), Baudonne, Dayimani. Replacements: Escobar, Julien, Kharaishvili, Sanconnie, Diallo, Le Bail, Gibert, Naituvi. Referee: Craig Evans (Wal)