Sale set up Toulouse tie with bonus-point win over Toulon

Returning Sale captain Ben Curry produced a moment of magic for his side's second try

Investec Champions Cup Pool 4

Sale Sharks: (7) 33

Tries: Roebuck 2, B Curry, Rodd, O'Flaherty Cons: Ford 3, R du Preez

Toulon: (0) 7

Try: Coulon Con: Garbisi

Sale Sharks set up a trip to Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup last 16 with a comfortable bonus-point win over Toulon at Salford Community Stadium.

Sharks knew only a victory would do in their final game in Pool 4 but the hosts were cagey in the opening exchanges as the nerves on the field transferred to the stands.

The home support had to wait until five seconds before the break for the opening try as Tom Roebuck finished off a flowing team move, which included an audacious offload by Raffi Quirke.

Sale picked up where they left off in the second half as Ben Curry showed off an impressive footballing ability, latching on to a Rob du Preez pass and then kicking the ball around the final defender to collect and dive over.

With the momentum behind them, Sale showed their intent to make further inroads as Bevan Rodd smashed his way over the line from close range.

Victory was all but assured but the bonus point would seal qualification, and it duly arrived when Tom O'Flaherty reacted quickest at the breakdown to pick up an unguarded ball and sprint to the line.

Toulon, who had already qualified for the knockout stage as pool winners, barely laid a glove but they claimed a consolation through Jules Coulon.

Sale would have the final say, though, as Tom Curry emulated his twin's skill with the boot to hack the loose ball through for Roebuck to gather and dive under the posts.

The prize awaiting Alex Sanderson's side is a daunting trip to defending champions Toulouse, while three-time winners Toulon will host Premiership side Saracens, who have also won three titles.

The Champions Cup last 16 takes place over the first weekend of April.

Captain Curry shines on return

It was a family affair in Salford as Sale picked the Curry twins and the three Du Preez brothers in the same starting XV for the first time this season.

Captain Ben Curry returned to the side and produced the type of influential performance which has won him recognition in England's Six Nations squad, steering his side into the knockout stage of Europe's premier club competition.

The flanker made the important steal at the breakdown to set Sale on their way to the opening try, which started on the left and ended on the right as Roebuck also followed up his England selection with a fine finish.

If that was Ben Curry's bread and butter, next came the creativity as he made the initial break before choosing to beat final defender Dan Biggar with a kick through rather than a simple pass to release Quirke for a run-in.

The skipper's decision was vindicated as he had the speed to regather his kick and score, in a moment which invigorated the Salford crowd and brought the bonus nearer.

The captain was key yet again in driving a rolling maul towards the Toulon line before Rodd did the rest to power over.

O'Flaherty's solo finish secured victory and progress to the last 16, but Sale will require yet another excellent performance from their skipper if they are to beat Toulouse in the next round.

'Going to Toulouse will be tasty' - what they said

Sale Sharks director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, said: "This feels bigger than just getting through in Europe.

"We've pulled together as a group in the last week and we believed if we kept the physicality high then the floodgates would open.

"Going to Toulouse will be tasty, but we had a crack against them a couple of years ago and the score blew out.

"They're clearly the best team in the world right now and are playing rugby from a different planet.

"But maybe, just maybe, we can drag them into something gritty. We'll relish that challenge."

Line-ups

Sale Sharks: Carpenter; Roebuck, R du Preez, Ma'asi-White, O'Flaherty; Ford, Quirke; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, JL du Preez, Andrews, T Curry, B Curry (capt), D du Preez.

Replacements: Caine, McIntyre, John, Bamber, Van Rhyn, Thomas, Bedlow, Reed.

Toulon: R Rebbadj; Wainiqolo, Frisch, Sinzelle, Villiere; Biggar, White; Gros, Lucchesi, Setiano, Halagahu (capt), S Rebbadj, Ludlam, Coulon, Tolofua.

Replacements: Ivaldi, Priso, Mchedlidze, Ribbans, Youyoutte, Abadie, Serin, Garbisi.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)