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Toulon are the only unbeaten side in this pool and will be looking to do the double over the Sale Sharks to cement themselves as leaders and as strong Heineken Cup quarter-final contenders. - 14/12/2012 12:23
Toulon are the only unbeaten side in this pool and will be looking to do the double over the Sale Sharks to cement themselves as leaders and as strong Heineken Cup quarter-final contenders.
The French side are only in their second season of Heineken Cup rugby and are already on the verge of their second quarter-final place in successive years in this tournament
Jonny Wilkinson and company lost to fellow French rivals Perpignan in last season’s quarter-final, but will want to record a comprehensive bonus point victory over the Sharks.
The Top 14 side, who lost last season’s French championship final, already look like genuine challengers for the best side in Europe and a fourth Pool victory would enhance that status.
Sale, who were beaten 17-6 by Toulon in Salford City Stadium, will know they face a tough examination at Stade Felix Mayol which is one of the most intimidating venues in Europe.
The Premiership side have only one victory to their name and are nine points adrift of Toulon.
But Montpellier, who play Welsh side the Cardiff Blues at home, will be hoping the Sharks can cause a major upset and aid their quarter-final hopes by beating the superstars of Toulon.
Match Facts
• Danny Cipriani has kicked the ball in open play on 40 occasions so far this season, the joint-highest total in the tournament.
• Toulon are gunning for their fourth straight victory in the Heineken Cup, which would be their longest ever run of wins in this tournament.
• Sale have not lost three successive matches in one Heineken Cup season since 2004. They have lost their last two.
• In France, Sale have lost six of their eight matches in the Heineken Cup, by an average scoreline of 23-16.
Les Varois poursuivent leur parcours sans faute. Ils ont écrasé les Anglais de Sale (62-0) pour reprendre la tête de la poule à Montpellier. Et se rapprocher sérieusement d'un quart à la maison. - 16/12/2012 17:02
And then there were three – Toulon joined Harlequins and ASM Clermont Auvergne as the only clubs to make it four from four before the tournament resumes in 2013 with a 62-0 victory over Sale Sharks at their Stade Félix Mayol fortress.
The nine-try romp took Toulon to 18 points, five clear of French rivals Montpellier, with quarter-final qualification firmly in their own hands with ties against Cardiff Blues and Montpellier to come next month.
Frederic Michalak – who ended up with a 20 points contribution – struck the first blow with a fifth minute penalty goal but Sale’s resistance held out for the opening half an hour before hooker Jean-Charles Orioli crossed for the first try.
Michalak, a player in prime form and given an outing at No 10 to give Jonny Wilkinson a break until the England World Cup winner came off the bench in the 67th minute, converted and then did the damage with the ball in hand, crossing for Toulon’s second try after 36 minutes.
It came from a scrum and although he produced some neat footwork he also cashed in on some dubious defence to scramble over.
He landed the conversion for good measure to give the French club a comfortable 17 points advantage to take into the break.
That became 24 when captain and back row forward Joe van Niekerk crossed for their third try and the bonus point followed with half an hour to spare with prop Davit Kubriashvili getting on the scoresheet.
And there was still more pain for Sale to suffer, brothers Steffon and Delon Armitage each scoring tries in the space of six minutes with van Niekerk getting his second as Sale saw the home side top a half century of points.
Wing Rudi Wulf got their eighth and David Smith their ninth with Wilkinson getting in on the act with a conversion.
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