Jason Robinson's coaching career got off to the perfect start as Sale made an early mockery of those tipping Leicester to retain the Guinness Premiership title. The home side did not even have to resort to fake blood capsules to clinch their tryless victory, relying instead on five penalties from their Welsh centre, Lee Thomas. This has never been the Tigers' favourite venue – they now have one win in their past seven visits.
To give Robinson and Thomas all the credit for Sale's win, however, would be to undersell the efforts of the home pack, who were never less than fully committed. The Sharks were also more decisive at fly-half, but they still had to rely on Jeremy Staunton missing a 75th-minute penalty that would probably have earned the visitors a draw.
In the wake of Bloodgate, the result suggested the new Premiership season will not be short of legitimate drama. Leicester spent the final minutes camped on the Sale line and they seemed odds-on to steal a win, only for the referee, David Rose, to blow for an offence on the floor. Not for nothing do they call the Premiership, statistically at least, the most competitive league in the world.
If rugby's down-to-earth values needed re-emphasising, it was the perfect evening for it. A damp night in Stockport is no place for posers, and Robinson's introduction to competitive coaching was feisty from the start. The presence of the England manager, Martin Johnson, and his coaching staff gave the occasion a further edge for the 19 English-qualified players in the starting XVs.
Johnson was on hand to witness the return of an old friend. The rolling maul was effectively outlawed last season but it took the Tigers barely a minute to dust down their old trademark. The only missing piece of the jigsaw was Neil Back burrowing over for a try, and twice a greasy ball assisted Sale's hard-working defence. Leicester also had a kickable penalty reversed when Ben Youngs got involved with another promising youngster, James Gaskell, and ripped off his headguard.
With the man-of-the-match, Eifion Roberts, causing scrummaging problems, Leicester were relieved when Staunton put them in front with a penalty, his 13th successful kick in a row following a 100% return for Wasps last season. Thomas, however, was on target with three penalties as Sale grew in confidence and established a deserved if unexpected 9-6 lead at the interval.
The 19-year-old Gaskell, Chris Jones, Neil Briggs and the Sale captain, Dean Schofield, were clearly intent on demonstrating there is life in Cheshire following the departure of Sébastien Chabal, Juan Fernández Lobbe and co. Even Staunton's accuracy deserted him, his hot streak ending when a well-struck kick hit a post.
The Irishman was back on target after the break to level the scores but there was no doubting Thomas's aim. Two more penalties, the second from more than 50 metres, put the Sharks back in control and ultimately proved sufficient.
Robinson will not enjoy a more satisfying night all season. "He gave me a big hug and a kiss at the end," joked Sale's director of rugby, Kingsley Jones.
Sale Macleod; Cueto, Bell (M Tait, 53), Thomas (A Tuilagi, 75), Cohen; Hodgson, Wigglesworth; Roberts (Kerr, 69), M Jones (Abrahams, 58), Forster (Halsall, 62), C Jones, Schofield (capt), Gaskell, Briggs (Schwalger, 62), Koyamaibole (D Tait, 72).
Pens Thomas 5.
Leicester G Murphy (capt); Smith, Hipkiss, Allen, Hamilton; Staunton, Youngs; Ayerza, Chuter (Davies, 59), Castrogiovanni (White, 60), Blaze, L Deacon (Kay, 58), Newby, Woods (Moody, 56), Crane.
Pens Staunton 4. Sin-bin L Deacon, 28.
Referee D Rose (Birmingham). Attendance 8,751.
