Match Centre: Sale Sharks 5-27 Toulouse

Sale Sharks 5-27 Toulouse, AJ Bell Stadium

Toulouse made most of the red card to Cobus Wiese as they sealed a 27-5 victory over Sale Sharks in the third round of the Heineken Champions Cup at AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday.

This is third win for Toulouse in as many games as hold the top position in Pool B taking them to the round of 16 while Sale Sharks are at ninth place.

Sale Sharks had double injury blows early in the game with both Simon McIntyre and Nick Schonert leaving the field but despite that they got their opening try with Akker van der Merwe crossing the whitewash following a rumbling maul.

By the 18th minute, Sale Sharks were down to 14 players with Wiese red carded for a no-arms tackle on Dorian Aldegheri's head. Melvyn Jaminet kicked penalties on either side of the break as Toulouse went on to take 5-6 lead.

Sale managed to keep the game in control despite being down on the numerical advantage but three more penalties from Jaminet ensured the French side increased the lead to 5-15 by the 65th minute.

With hardly any response from Sale, Emmanuel Meafou powered over and a break from scrum-half Antoine Dupont set up replacement hooker Cramont to cross in the corner to complete a 22-point victory.

Team line up:

Sale: Carpenter; O'Flaherty, S James, Tuilagi, Reed; R Du Preez, Warr; McIntyre, Van der Merwe, Schonert, Wiese, Hill, Ross, B Curry (capt), JL Du Preez

Reserves: Ashman, Rodd, Harper, Beaumont, Dugdale, Quirke, Curtis, L James

Toulouse: Jaminet; Mallia, Barassi, Guitoune, Lebel; Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Baille, Marchand, Aldegheri, Arnold, Meafou, Jelonch, Placines, Roumat

Reserves: Cramont, Neti, Faumuina, Brennan, Willis, Elstadt, Delibes, Retiere