Toulouse inflict Sale's record loss to avoid shock exit

Investec Champions Cup Pool 1

Toulouse (28) 77

Tries: Meafou, Marchand, Dupont 2, Gourgues, Delibes, Lebel 2, Ramos, Graou, Brennan Cons: Ramos 11

Sale (0) 7

Try: Curtis Con: Curtis

Toulouse avoided a shock Investec Champions Cup exit by scoring 11 tries and inflicting Sale Sharks' record defeat.

A 70-point winning margin at Stade Toulousain comfortably surpassed Sale's previous record loss - a 58-8 defeat by Wasps in 2000.

Victory for Alex Sanderson's side, who had already qualified, would have knocked the six-time winners out.

That never looked likely as the Top 14 leaders scored three tries inside the opening 30 minutes.

Emmanuel Meafou, Julien Marchand and Antoine Dupont all crossed, with Kalvin Gourgues adding the bonus-point try.

Back-three players Dimitri Delibes, Matthis Lebel and Thomas Ramos all added second-half scores.

Dupont crossed for a second try after replacement Paul Graou dived over, with Joshua Brennan and another from Lebel completing the scoring.

Dead-eye goalkicker Ramos impressively nailed all 11 conversions.

If Saracens are beaten by Glasgow Warriors on Sunday, Toulouse will finish second in the pool and receive a home last-16 match.

Sale, who scored one try through Tom Curtis, have dropped out of a home last-16 spot and will also want a positive Glasgow result in order to receive a higher knockout seeding.

More to follow.

Toulouse: Ramos; Delibes, Gourgues, Chocobares, Lebel; Kinghorn, Dupont (capt); Baille, Marchand, Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Banos, Willis, Jelonch.

Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Mallez, Brennan, Roumat, Cros, Graou, Thomas.

Sale: Davies; Ene, Ma'asi-White, Louw (capt), Wills; Curtis, Warr; Rodd, Jibulu, Harper, Burrow, Andrews, Gilmore, Woodman, Dugdale.

Replacements: Caine, McIntyre, Bell, Hogg, Logan, Hanson, Bedlow, Grace.

Match officials

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)

Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ire), Padraic Reidy (Ire)

TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)