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Investec Champions Cup

England outsiders catch the eye as Sale pick up vital win on the road

By PA
Sale’s South African flanker #06 Jacques Vermeulen (C) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a try during the European Rugby Champions Cup pool 1 rugby union match between ASM Clermont Auvergne and the Sale Sharks at the Marcel-Michelin Stadium in Clermont-Ferrand on December 13, 2025. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)

Sale finished strongly to give their Investec Champions Cup campaign lift off with a 35-14 victory over Clermont at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

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Responding to their home defeat by Glasgow on the opening night of the competition, the Sharks built a 20-7 half-time lead through tries by Tom O’Flaherty, Marius Louw and Arron Reed.

They were then forced to weather a Clermont storm when Lucas Zamoa crossed in the 47th minute and at 23-14 down the fallen European heavyweights were pressing hard to add another score.

VIDEO

However, spirited Sale showed their hunger by scrambling a try through Joe Bedlow and when Alex Wills went over in the 73rd minute it was all over.

England fly-half George Ford and flanker Tom Curry were both missing but that did not stop the Sharks from becoming only the second team to win at Stade Marcel-Michelin this season.

Lock Ben Bamber, scrum-half Raffi Quirke and centre Marius Louw played starring roles in the bonus-point demolition.

Related

Stormers player ratings vs La Rochelle | Investec Champions Cup 2026/26

Stormers player ratings: The Stormers maintained their unbeaten start to the season on Saturday, with a 42-21 victory over La Rochelle in Gqeberha's Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in round two of the Investec Champions Cup.

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Rugby’s best of the best, ranked by experts. Check out our list of the Top 100 Men's Rugby Players 2025 and let us know what you think! 



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Latest Long Reads

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Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

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Comments on RugbyPass

P
PMcD 7 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

I actually think the issue with Marcus is that it’s a skill overplayed (becoming a weakness).

He had an extra yard of space with Andre outside him but he’s then trying to force the running game and teams are waiting for it, which is why he keeps being flattened and then he’s left chicken-arming the ball under his arm.



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38 Go to comments
E
ED 36 minutes ago
The three unsung heroes of the 2025 Wallabies

Thanks, I’ve been ignorant of Nonngorr. I’ll follow his progress. Like Englands Baxter, he’s had good coaches early.

The Reds are building.



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2 Go to comments
P
PMcD 43 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

I have just realised I replied to the wrong post. This should make more sense. 🤣🤣🤣

I think he had deeper ties to Quins (which is to be commended) but I also think he stretched that marquee contract as far as he could. Quins need to find the right coach to shape that team in the style the fans enjoy, which is why I am surprised they didn’t make a bigger play to get either Stuart Lancaster or Lee Blackett. They would both have been a good fit for Quins.



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38 Go to comments
u
unknown 58 minutes ago
Top 100 Men's Rugby Players 2025 | Best Rugby Player in the World | RugbyPass

I’m a welsh fan but how lrz is on there i don't know.

54 Go to comments
M
MH 59 minutes ago
Gloucester vs Munster | Munster vs Gloucester | Investec Champions Cup Live

Hard game to watch. So many entries into Glos 22 and we fluffed our lines. A win is a win

1 Go to comments
f
fl 2 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

1) what are you talking about?

2) Stuart Lancaster isn’t heavy enough to be a top level coach.



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38 Go to comments
D
DC 3 hours ago
'A lot of people had written us off before the game'

Not a bad result considering they were playing against Ireland + 1 All Black.

4 Go to comments
P
PMcD 3 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

NB - If you were Lee Blackett, what would you be thinking about doing differently with the attack? Where do you think the improvement from this ENG team is possible?

38 Go to comments
S
SC 3 hours ago
The five players who can swing the Springboks tour in the All Blacks' favour

The All Black RWC winning teams of 2011 and 2015 were not more than 2 quality test players deep at most positions.

#10 was about the only position the All Blacks were 4 deep in back in 2011.



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45 Go to comments
u
unknown 4 hours ago
Who will be replacing Ireland's ageing golden generation if they don't make RWC 2027

Argentina are fantastic at knocking Ireland out of world cups. I’d sooner we had a SA, England, France or Australia to play. Though honestly of those I'd be most confident against SA and Australia at the moment once we get our set piece sorted.

13 Go to comments
J
JPM 4 hours ago
Stormers blow past Ronan O'Gara-less La Rochelle in Champions Cup

The writer seems more interested in ROG than his leaders absence…with four teenagers starting as highlighted in the other article (Stormers rating).

1 Go to comments
B
BP 4 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'We should applaud to the rafters the news that rugby on ITV is back with a bang.'

Who owns ITV these days?

4 Go to comments
P
PMcD 4 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

The left foot Ben Spencer box kick for Will Muir to attack aerially is one of the main plays Bath use as they navigate their way up the field, aerially he is the best by far at Bath, which is why I think they will favour that combination on the left and move Arundell to the right.

I am really interested to see who JvG picks in the end of year big games in the back row and the back 3.



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38 Go to comments
P
PMcD 4 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

That was pretty neat . . . and the reverse Ojomoh cross kick play, which Blackett saw coming as soon as they passed the ball from Ford. They clearly have been thinking of some creative plays which has added another layer to the attack.

It will be interesting to see if Ollie Lawrence adds back that same size and acceleration to last year. I don’t think he is there yet, which may ultimately move him towards 12 longer term.



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38 Go to comments
P
PMcD 4 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Wrong reply

38 Go to comments
P
PMcD 4 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

I’d agree with that, it’s fair to say it’s had a much more profound impact than I think people initially expected/assumed.

There are grumblings that World Rugby are looking at changing this but I have no idea how valid those are and I very much doubt that would be before RWC 2027.



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38 Go to comments
N
NB 5 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Thanks P. Will Muir a better big man option than Coakin’ Joe?

38 Go to comments
N
NB 5 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

You can add Freeman to your list of 13’s too, and Lawrence to your list of 12’s!

That try England scored v the ABs when Lawrence and Dingwall swapped over, had Blackett written all over it… Give the ball to Ollie, sukcer two D’s in, release the ball to the bloke they have wrirten off as a threat [Fraser].😁



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38 Go to comments
N
NB 5 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

The element which had greatest weight was that change in the kick-chase law, and it has changed the selection priorities of a number of top sides…

38 Go to comments
N
NB 5 hours ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?



Bath were super close to signing Marcus before he decided to stay with Quins, which led to the Finn Russell recruitment. I wonder if he regrets that decision a few years down the line?

We had the same deal with him at Racing. He agreed at come to PAris and told the club, then decided to stay at Quins. I still don’t know whether he was trying to leveage a better deal or he really intended to come!



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38 Go to comments
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