All Black Luke McAlister turned in a magnificent man-of-the-match performance to spur Sale to an impressive 32-15 European Cup win over perennial French underachievers Clermont on Saturday.
French woes were assuaged, however, as unbeaten Top 14 leaders Stade Francais beat Ulster 26-10 on a day when Cardiff, Newport-Gwent Dragons, Harlequins and Leinster all won. Gloucester host Biarritz in the late game.
McAlister scored a try, three penalties and two conversions and was instrumental in three of Sale’s four tries as the English club, coached by Frenchman Philippe Saint-Andre, demolished a timid-looking Clermont.
“When we had the ball we tried to attack and be adventurous and I’m very proud of my team after seeing them put on their best performance in Europe and the best I’ve seen since we won the Premiership final,” said Saint-Andre, whose team host reigning European champions Munster next Sunday.
Sale opened the scoring when Dwayne Peel, looking sharp at scrum-half, made a searing break up the middle of the park, linked up with fast-advancing captain J.M. Fernandez Lobbe who jinked the cover and offloaded to David Doherty who crossed in the corner.
Brock James kept Clermont — who have only once advanced from the Cup group stages, in 2001-2002 — in the game with three penalties, but McAlister sparked Sale’s revival.
Scottish fullback Rory Lamont bounced off a weak tackle and accelerated away to feed a looping McAlister for a great opportunistic try.
James notched up two more penalties but Sale wrapped up the game and a bonus point with two late tries.
First Clermont fullback Anthony Floch was turned over, McAlister drew the final man and fed replacement back Rudi Keil for an easy run-in.
Then McAlister played Lamont into the gap and the when the Scot was hauled down he offloaded perfectly for winger Mark Cueto to score.
In Scotland, Australian flanker Rocky Elsom made a try-scoring European debut for Leinster in a 27-16 win over Edinburgh.
In the 18th minute, Girvan Dempsey turned over an Edinburgh player, Elsom pounced on a loose ball, sold a dummy and sprinted in unfettered from 35m.
Brian O’Driscoll, Felipe Contepomi and Shane Horgan then scored in close succession, with the Edinburgh midfield woeful in defense.
Contepomi turned from hero to villain when he was sin-binned early in the second-half, conceding a penalty try, but the Scottish side were never in the running.
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