Initial Immanuel Feyi-Waboso injury update does not sound promising

Alex Sanderson singled out George Ford for praise after Sale secured a 28-10 bonus-point victory over rock-bottom Exeter which maintained their 100 per cent winning home record this season.

Centre Luke James and full-back Joe Carpenter scored first-half tries before a penalty try and Jonny Hill’s score gave Sanderson’s men a five-point haul and left the Chiefs with eight straight Premiership defeats this season.

It was also Exeter’s 10th straight reverse in major competitions following their back-to-back setbacks against the Sharks and Toulouse in the European Champions Cup.

Rob Baxter’s visitors, who also lost England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to a shoulder injury during the first half, fought hard in difficult conditions but Sale were worthy winners in the rain-soaked conditions.

Sanderson reserved special praise for fly-half Ford, saying: “George is just a genius and, when the weather is so bad, it’s just about putting the ball back in your opponents’ half.

“It’s about repeat pressure to maul and pick-and-go because this was one of those days when you have to do the hard yards.

“George will always take the smarter option – the low-risk, high-percentage play, particularly on a night like tonight.

“He was like a strategic rugby god out there. I thought he was fantastic.”

The hosts had picked up maximum points against Racing 92 last weekend and they remain unbeaten in the north west in all competitions so far this campaign.

The match was played in driving rain and Sanderson joked: “It was a fantastic brand of rugby!

“I’m happy with the five points, although the lads are a little bit frustrated we didn’t capitalise on some of the territory we had in that first 20 or 30 minutes.

“But I’ve told them to enjoy Christmas and get ready for Bristol (next Friday).

“The forwards enjoyed the physical challenge but I’d like us to be able to play more in the style that we did against Racing 92 last week.”

Exeter boss Baxter made a number of changes to his side following last Sunday’s thumping 64-21 home defeat against Toulouse in the Champions Cup.

But despite a second-half try from replacement Jimmy Roots, his men were again second-best and the injury which forced Feyi-Waboso off will be assessed.

Baxter said: “Initially, it looked like his shoulder popped out but it looked like it went back in pretty quickly.

“He’ll be having scans and an assessment as soon as we get back to Exeter.

“There was nothing untoward – he just landed awkwardly.

“We’re just in a bit of a cycle whereby we’re undoing our hard, physical work by being ill-disciplined.”