Interesting. Mike Phillips off for Peter Stringer.

Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond had to do something, and that was it.

Different half, same story.

The kicking tennis returns... 

The thing is, when both sides have run with the ball, there has looked to be some sort of threat...

Image source, Getty Images

Sale will be hoping for more in this second half.

Exeter get us back under way.

Strong words from BBC Radio Manchester commentator Nathan Middleton.

Lose today and Sale could be in the bottom three by the end of the weekend.

Staying with the international theme, England captain Dylan Hartley has been teaching team-mate Jonny May how to scrum after the winger’s failed attempts against Argentina went viral.

"All week he has been the butt of the joke,” Hartley said.

"We had a little tutorial, a one-on-one scrum session and I talked him through it because it might happen again and these are the things you need to learn.”

As much as we love the Premiership, there's probably no denying what the game of the weekend is in England.

Australia are this weekend's visitors to Twickenham, and they'll be looking to get some revenge for being whitewashed Down Under by Eddie Jones' side in the summer.

Flanker James Haskell played in that series and is nearing the end of his recovery from a long-term injury - in his final BBC Sport column, he assesses all the key talking points and confidently states, "England will win".

You can read all about it here.

Image source, Rex Features

Former Exeter captain John Lockyer on BBC Radio Devon:

"Although the set-piece has not been that tidy, Chiefs have won enough ball and played in the right areas of the pitch.

"The (Will) Chudley try was made from wonderful work from (Geoff) Parling and Sam Hill, who's had a wonderful first half.

"You can bet your bottom dollar that Sale will come out with something in the second half - this has been very disappointing for them, and they'll be embarrassed."

The scoreline doesn't lie. Exeter have been pretty much totally dominant at the AJ Bell Stadium.

One more try and hold out for victory and that'll be the third bonus-point win in a row.

Sale have to come up with something else in the second half other than half-hearted kicks.

Sale finally have some decent possession in the opposition half, but lose it in a tackle. Pretty much sums up their half...

Ouch. There's been a fair amount of blood spilling out of players this evening, and Exeter hooker Jack Yeandle is the latest to need treatment after an apparent clash of heads.

These lads are hardnuts, aren't they?

Former Exeter captain John Lockyer on BBC Radio Devon:

"Exeter are showing that they want to play rugby, and I don't think Sale have been in their 22 this first half.

"We criticised Exeter for not starting well last season, but they've started well here - they just need to complete the exercise with the end of this half and the rest of the game."

That line-out was in a similar position to Exeter's second try, but Sale do well to defend against it.

After two more minutes of Exeter possession around the Sale 22, the Sharks manage to turn the ball over but some sloppy play loses them the ball and Exeter win a lineout.

Exeter are certainly on top in terms of territory in this match, but Sale's defence is standing up strong to much of what they can throw at them.

Eventually, a clear forward pass ends Chiefs' possession.

And we're back to kicking rugby again, including one absolutely awful one from Mike Phillips. Not that I could do much better, mind.

Sale try to respond immediately through that man AJ MacGinty, but after a brilliant breakthrough the ball comes loose thanks to great blocking work from Olly Woodburn.

Former Exeter captain John Lockyer on BBC Radio Devon:

"Steve Diamond will be delighted, because while he's (Josh Beaumont) been off the field they've gained three points."

Sale are now back up to a full compliment of players following Beaumont's sin-binning.

Sale steal the scrum and clear the ball into Exeter's half as quickly as they physically can.

At the moment, the Chiefs are on top in the territory battle, but are struggling to get past the gain line without kicking it.