43 - 7

15 - 52

24 - 13

25 - 37

12 - 36

32 - 26

15 - 20

27 - 23

17 - 26

21 - 26

61 - 7

18 - 26

38 - 17

47 - 10

13 - 24

33 - 46

28 - 56

45 - 28

14 - 23

39 - 20

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40 - 14

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27 - 35

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56 - 19

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34 - 14

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33 - 20

Sale sweep aside Stade Francais in Champions Cup opener

By PA

10 Dec 2023

Press Association

Sale produced a superb second-half show to open their Champions Cup campaign with a 28-5 victory over Stade Francais at AJ Bell Stadium.

The Sharks edged a feisty first period 6-5 with two George Ford penalties eclipsing a well-worked try from Stade skipper Jeremy Ward.

England back Ford landed a third kick from a scrum penalty before Sale extended their lead by finding space for winger Tom O’Flaherty to touch down.

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White takes aim at unruly fans at some Loftus Versfeld

Sale’s forward power told in the final quarter as Raffi Quirke freed Jonny Hill into the corner and Tom Curtis added the extras.

Player of the match Sam Dugdale put the gloss on victory by crashing over six minutes from time, with Curtis again adding the conversion.

Sale missed out on a fourth score and bonus point in the final minutes ahead of their visit to four-time champions Leinster next weekend.

Match Summary

Penalty Goals

Tries

Conversions

Drop Goals

152

Carries

Line Breaks

Turnovers Lost

Turnovers Won

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Comments on RugbyPass

d 10 minutes ago

Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

Well I think I can front foot that question and speak on behalf of the wider populace when I say that can in all confidence state unequivocally that this depends entirely on how you qualify "directly" and the general consensus of what is indeed "the point".

3 Go to comments

Wayneo 13 minutes ago

Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

It’s not weird at all, it’s the kind of thing brothers do to fill the time between knocking the stuffing out of each other.

Only some will understand, the rest get to be spectators watching The Greatest Rivalry on tv.

...

9 Go to comments

Wayneo 20 minutes ago

Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

Blah, blah, blah, blah marmite

All this is just useful idiot talk for “I made a monumental f…# up when I leaked the Aratipu report (that he commissioned) to the media informing SA Rugby that they were kicked out of Super Rugby and then refused to answer any of SA Rugby’s phone calls for the next two weeks, and only did so after some serious intervention from the ARU, Sky and SANZAAR.

...

3 Go to comments

Ninjin 33 minutes ago

Alex Mann won't face citing for part in Wales-South Africa incident

Ai ou bra lines net fani yard af.

67 Go to comments

C H 36 minutes ago

What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

I think there’s too many cooks there who are out of their depth.

Not enough international experience to compete withe top teams

...

3 Go to comments

Hammer Head 53 minutes ago

Departing NZR CEO reflects on his near six-year tenure at the helm

Bless the mud island

9 Go to comments

Hammer Head 1 hour ago

Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

Does anyone in New Zealand speak directly and to the point?

3 Go to comments

Hammer Head 1 hour ago

Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Waa waa. Boo hoo hoo.

9 Go to comments

ck 1 hour ago

What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

Don’t need a highball coach ,get a NRL/AFL pro to come in for a couple workshops here and there ,if razor isn’t getting sacked then sack Hansen and Ellison

3 Go to comments

Lerumo 2 hours ago

Sharks player ratings vs Toulouse | Investec Champions Cup 2026/26

Sharks continue to be the most frustrating SA side to watch, with or without star players. Rarely play as a team, more like a bunch of self-interested sportsmen forced to compete in a team sport.

1 Go to comments

PMcD 4 hours ago

Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

I agree, the 1st round has some good games but whoever loses R1, it falls off pretty quickly and then comes back from the QF’s onwards.

SF’s are great, as are finals, so it ends in the right place but how they get there is not great.

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Dave Didley 4 hours ago

Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Deregistered by his club too.

Totally unrelated, but if a player in a similar position was to take some ’testosterone supplements’ that could be a great chance to cycle, out of competition and regular testing.

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9 Go to comments

Dave Didley 4 hours ago

Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Test level crime should equal test level time.

9 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 5 hours ago

Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

So they’re saying that either the ban should be arbitrarily extended beyond the time decided by the disciplinary panel in order to include Test matches, or that the player should be able to play for his club immediately but sit out Test matches to serve the ban?

Sounds like a poorly thought through position!

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9 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 5 hours ago

Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

They already have that qualifying method, more or less, with the league splits, it’s a balance between how much they can push the limits to generate revenue vs keeping the format tight and engaging for fans. As things stand, engagement is losing.

11 Go to comments

Gary C 5 hours ago

What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

Agree with Tony, the attack coach is critical and the AB's have not had one this year.

Also need 3 new number 10's to direct the team.

...

3 Go to comments

JJ 5 hours ago

Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

But it’s more than 12 weeks, it’s 12 matches which takes us in to April. It’s actually 18 weeks that he’s out for.

9 Go to comments

Tommy B 5 hours ago

How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

Much quicker, apparently. According to Van Graan one of the quickest at Bath - back or forward (obviously excluding Arundell).

262 Go to comments

PMcD 6 hours ago

Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

When it was the Heineken Cup there was a contracted requirement to field your strongest team to maintain the integrity of the Home & Away formats. Since it became the Investec and this strange qualifying, they have damaged the integrity of the competition.

If they want the SA teams in there, they should go to regional qualifying (English teams, URC (ex SA), French Teams & SA and then the winners can do a straight play off.

...

Sale sweep aside Stade Francais in Champions Cup opener

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Match Summary

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Sale sweep aside Stade Francais in Champions Cup opener

WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White takes aim at unruly fans at some Loftus Versfeld

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