Sale 19-85 Saracens: Noah Caluori scores five against Sharks for second time this season

Saracens produced a ruthless attacking display to dismantle Sale Sharks, running in a remarkable 13 tries in a one-sided contest.

The visitors made a blistering start, with Rotimi Segun slicing through the Sale defence before finishing in the corner after just three minutes. Fergus Burke converted to give Saracens an early 0–7 lead.

It didn’t take long for the advantage to grow. Max Malins countered from halfway, linking with captain Maro Itoje before Noah Caluori finished off the move for 0–14 inside 10 minutes.

Saracens’ pace and precision overwhelmed Sale throughout the first half. Tom Willis powered over from close range, before a slick lineout move saw Rhys Carre add the bonus-point try. Burke then capitalised on a loose bounce to score himself, and moments later Saracens went coast-to-coast, with Caluori finishing spectacularly in the corner. At the break, the visitors were already in complete control at 0–38.

Sale showed brief resistance after half-time, with Tom O’Flaherty stepping through to score their first try. However, Saracens responded immediately. Caluori turned provider for Charlie Bracken before then intercepting a loose pass to complete his hat-trick.

The floodgates fully opened as Saracens continued to punish a disjointed Sale defence. Caluori added his fourth try shortly after, while further slick attacking play involving Theo McFarland and Malins saw the winger grab yet another score as the visitors passed 60 points.

Replacement Nathan Michelow added another, and Ivan van Zyl’s clever kick-and-chase effort brought Saracens close to 80.

Sale did manage a late consolation through O’Flaherty’s second try, but Saracens quickly responded again. Ben Earl crossed for the visitors’ 13th try, before Asher Opoku-Fordjour grabbed a final score for the hosts. Saracens’ relentless attacking display, combined with Sale’s defensive struggles, saw the visitors run out emphatic 85–19 winners in a dominant performance.

After the match, Sharks head coach Alex Sanderson said “it hurts against anyone” in response to the drubbing being against his former employers, “but it doesn’t make a difference if it’s against Saracens or whoever. It’s not even the result; it’s the nature of it.”

If there was a bright side for Sanderson out of today’s humiliation was Tom O’Flaherty being “absolutely outstanding” as well as the five 19/20 year olds coming on and giving them experience. However, it was a definite baptism of fire for them, especially Dylan Hodkinson who debuted in the PREM.

O’Flaherty 44’, 70’, Opoku-Fordjour 77’

Ford 71’,78’

Segun, 3’, Caluori 11’, 38’, 49’, 53’ 56’, Willis 17’, Carre 34’, Burke 36’, Bracken 47’, Michelow 64’, Malins 67’, Earl 74’

Burke 4’, 12’, 35’, 37,’ 48’, 50’, 54’, 57’, Farrell 68’,75’

R du Preez, O’Flaherty, Louw, Ma’asi-White (Bedlow 60’) Roebuck, Ford, Warr (Hanson 50’), Opoku-Fordjour (McEachran 50’), Caine (Longstaff 50’(Caine 76’)), Harper (Raymont 50’(Opoku-Fordjour 75’), van Rhyn © (Logan 71’), Bamber, Vermeulen (Hodkinson 60’), Gilmore (Dugdale 62’), Dugdale (Woodman 60’)

Malins, Caluori, Tompkins Hartley, Segun (Hall 47’), Burke (Farrell 57’), Bracken (van Zyl 57’), Carre (Mawi 50’), George (Dan 50’), Street (Riccioni 50’), Itoje © (Wilson 57’), Tizard, McFarland, Earl, Willis (Michelow 54’)