Match Report: Six-try Sale thrash Ulster
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Sale Sharks began their Heineken Champions Cup campaign with a dominant 39-0 win over Ulster Rugby at AJ Bell Stadium on Sunday.
Tom Curry, Dan du Preez, Thomas Curtis, Byron McGuigan and Arron Reed were amongst the tries for the rampaging hosts, with Robert du Preez also getting over as well as contributing nine points from the tee.
It was an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance from Ulster, who offered little threat in Salford and drew a blank in a Heineken Champions Cup match for the first time.
After a cagey start, Sale took charge of proceedings – flanker Curry dotted down with a quarter of an hour played after a smart one-handed offload from fly-half Robert du Preez released wing Reed.
And moments after the hosts’ hooker Akker van der Merwe was denied a score following a TMO review, they powered over for a second try through Dan du Preez on 21 minutes, scrum-half Fergus Warr the creator with a quickly-taken penalty.
A Robert du Preez penalty extended Sale’s lead on 27 minutes as they continued to control the game, and their pressure saw Ulster No.8 Duane Vermeulen sin-binned for an offence close to his own line on half an hour.
Simply beautiful rugby! 😍
From deep in their own half all the way to the other end, what an incredible play!@SaleSharksRugby really turned on the style! 🤩#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/vGHWVjJCPj
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 11, 2022
Ulster defended resolutely after going down to 14 men, preventing Sale from adding any further points as they battled their way to half-time.
However, Sale’s firm grip on the game continued following the restart, and despite Ulster returning to their full complement, Robert du Preez added a third try for the home side after a stroke of fortune saw an attempted offload land back in his hands after deflecting off a defender.
After a number of fruitless visits to the Ulster 22, Sale secured the bonus point on 65 minutes as a slick move off a scrum saw replacement back Curtis hit a flat line and dive over under the posts.
And there was time for two more scores as Ulster’s defence began to splinter, replacement back McGuigan first profiting from a poorly executed quick lineout from the away side before wing Reed rounded things by finishing a superb team move in the corner.
Ulster will look to bounce back in Round 2 on Saturday as they welcome last season’s champions Stade Rochelais to Kingspan Stadium, with Sale playing a week today as they visit five-time winners Stade Toulousain.
