'It was madness': Concern for England star after Sale collapse

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter could not hide his delight after his side came from 26-6 down to secure a dramatic 27-26 victory at Sale.

The Chiefs had not won away in the Gallagher Prem since April 2024 but they showed remarkable spirit to score three second-half tries and clinch a famous win at a ground where hosts Sale had only lost once in the league since January 2024.

The result sent Baxter’s men top of the table on points difference as the Gallagher Prem resumed after a month-long break during the autumn internationals.

Sale appeared to be in control after Luke James’ first-half try was added to by Alex Wills early in the second period, but Exeter showed their spirit of old to win it with scores from Jack Yeandle, Olly Woodburn and Scott Sio.

Baxter said: “That’s the most pleasing thing – Sale are very good and just don’t lose games of rugby here.

“In the first half, they had control of the discipline, territory and the way the game needed to be played.

“But we improved in the second half and I’ve got to congratulate the players because, whatever we said to them at half-time, you still have to rely on the lads going out and giving a great amount of physical effort, drive and desire.

“We had bags of that and we rolled up our sleeves and got on with it.

“It’s funny how games look like they’re getting away from you suddenly get very close with a couple of tries.

“Nowadays, 12 or 13 points is nothing and games are there for the taking.”

Henry Slade, fresh from his England exploits during the autumn internationals, showed impressive composure to convert all three of Exeter’s tries.

Baxter said of the veteran centre’s contribution: “If those conversions don’t go over, then that game doesn’t get win, no matter how well we play.”

For Alex Sanderson, it was a nightmare second-half display from his Sale side as they crashed to a rare home defeat.

They looked in total control at 26-6 ahead but the loss of England fly-half George Ford to a groin injury midway through the second half proved very costly.

Asked to assess the dramatic turn of events during the second half, Sanderson said: “It was madness and very difficult to swallow and to accept.

“In the last 30 minutes we lost all the aerial collisions and all the aerial scraps.

“We lost territory and on the back of that lost some collisions close to our line.

“Exeter were able to get over for some relatively easy tries.

“George going off no doubt affected some parts of our game-management but you’ve got to be a good enough team to close a game out.”