Sale 30 N-G Dragons 10: Saint-André's men set up a thriller at Munster

Sale got to the job half done with an emphatic Heineken Cup victory against the Newport-Gwent Dragons at Edgeley Park yesterday, leaving them five points clear at the top of Pool One and certain to qualify for the quarter-finals. Munster, however, lie in wait at Thomond Park on Saturday.

The Irishmen have never been beaten there in European competition and that eagerly awaited contest will decide if Sale complete the group stages with enough points to guarantee home advantage in the last eight, or if they will have to take their chances as one of the two best runners-up.

A losing bonus point will be sufficient to top the pool, though Sale's director of rugby Philippe Saint-André believes his side are capable of winning in Limerick.

"Once we got our fourth try today, some of the guys switched off," said the Frenchman. "I was very impressed with Munster at Castres on Friday, and it will be very physical against them. But there will be a first time when they lose at home, and I think we can win there.

"To do so, we will have to be on top of our game, and be much more patient and clinical than we were today".

Sale were patient and clinical in the first half, although it was a curiously stop-start affair. The home side set off like an express train and all the predictions were for them to secure a four-try bonus point before the break.

But nothing is certain in this game and the Dragons, though without 10 first-choice players in their starting line-up, showed some very neat touches, especially when working their right winger Richard Fussell over for a smart try later in the half.

Aled Thomas, Ceri Sweeney Jamie Ringer and Gareth Baber did their best to keep the Dragons moving, but Sale were winning the forward exchanges and wide out they were in a different class.

Charlie Hodgson converted Sébastien Chabal's opening try and kicked two penalties. Mark Cueto, with his first try for Sale since these two first met in October, continued the scoring to make it 18-5 to the Sharks at the break.

Cueto began the second period as he finished the first, crossing the line, with a long-range try which Hodgson converted. But the Dragons were not ready to throw in the towel. The Celtic League side kept plugging away and were rewarded with a try by Sione Tuipulotu, who stepped out of Hodgson's limp tackle to touch down. Hodgson made up for his mistake with the try which confirmed Sale's bonus point.

Sale: Tries Chabal, Cueto 2, Hodgson; Conversions Hodgson 2; Penalties Hodgson 2. Newport-Gwent Dragons: Tries Fussell, Tuipulotu.

Sale: D Larrechea; M Cueto, M Taylor, E Seveali'i (O Ripol, 75), J Robinson (capt); C Hodgson (C Mayor, 63), R Wigglesworth (B Foden, 45); A Sheridan, S Bruno (A Titterrell, 59), B Coutts (B Stewart, 58), C Jones (C Day, 58), C Schofield, N Bonner Evans, M Lund, S Chabal.

Newport-Gwent Dragons: A Thomas; R Fussell, H Luscombe (J Bryant, 64), S Tuipulotu, B Breeze; C Sweeney, G Baber; D Maddocks (A Black, 52), S Jones, G Robinson (R Thomas, 52), B Griffiths (I Gough, 52), P Sidoli, A Hall (R Oakley, 64), J Ringer, M Owen (capt).

Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).