UNLESS SALE can perform better beside the Shannon than they did on the banks of the River Tarn their European dream will sink without trace next month.
The Sharks' defeat to a club who had never previously won a Heineken Cup match has left the more consistent men of Munster firmly in control of Pool One.
However, Philippe Saint-Andre remains optimistic that his squad can overturn the daunting odds at Thomond Park in January. "If we can win our next two games we can still qualify," said Sale's head coach, aware that Montauban and Clermont have come close to winning in Limerick this season.
His compatriot Sebastian Chabal also refused to accept the game is up. "It will be very difficult, but our destiny is in our own hands. We just have to go to Munster and win and then beat Clermont at home with a bonus point. If we do that we'll be in business." But it seems Sale have all but squandered their stunning opening away win at Clermont.
The Sharks should have registered more than four Charlie Hodgson penalties. Dwayne Peel, the Wales scrum-half, spent the match on the bench and Montauban were rarely stretched as they defended their first-half lead of 10-6. The game's solitary try was scored by the Fijian winger Vilimoni Delasau, who kicked ahead and outpaced the cover after a pass from Hodgson had been dropped.
With Saint-Andre and Chabal confirmed as leaving the club, there is an end-of-era atmosphere. The return from injury of Jason White, Chris Jones, Kristian Ormsby and Lee Thomas will help, but Munster rarely fail to finish off distracted foes.
MONTAUBAN:Jonnet; Audrin, Viard, Avramovic, Delasau (Cassin, 61); Rosalen (Lespinas, 68), Culinat (Mitu, 57); Balan (Shvelidze, 46), Mach, Florea (Adams, 64), Rolland, Frost, Caballero, Raynaud (capt), Battut (Clarkin, 43).
SALE SHARKS:Tait (Bell, 61); Cueto, Tuilagi, McAlister, Doherty; Hodgson, Wigglesworth; Sheridan (Faure, 65), M Jones (Cockbain, 54) Lewis-Roberts (Turner, 52), Chabal, Schofield, Abraham, Briggs, Lobbe (capt).
Referee:P Allan (Scotland).
Pens:Hodgson 4
- Guardian Service
