Champions Cup: Alex Sanderson proud of rock-solid Sale Sharks against Racing 92, Castres narrowly defeat Munster

Sale Sharks bounced back from a disappointing defeat against Glasgow Warriors in their opening match of the Champions Cup with an impressive victory over French giants Racing 92. The Premiership side stormed to a 29-7 triumph over Racing 92, and head coach Alex Sanderson believes his team produced one of the finest defensive displays of his tenure. Elsewhere, Castres narrowly defeated Munster.

Alex Sanderson believes Sale Sharks put in one of the best defensive performances he has seen since joining the club as they stormed to a 29-7 victory over Racing 92 in the Champions Cup.

The Gallagher Premiership side were 12-7 ahead at half-time, with Jean-Luc du Preez and Tom Roebuck crossing the whitewash for Sharks before Guram Gogichashvili's try on the stroke of half-time.

The hosts wrapped up the victory after the break, with Joe Carpenter and Ben Curry touching down to add the exclamation point to a huge victory for Sanderson's side.

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The result is a significant boost for Sharks after falling to defeat against Glasgow Warriors in their opening match in Pool 4.

"We just wanted to be on it for longer defensively this week," Sanderson told BBC Sport. "I think we were. That was one of our best defensive performances.

"We are a little more connected and we have a little more bite to us when the collision comes, when we have to 'find the monster'.

"We were lacking some bite, and I feel like we have it back."

Racing 92's star-studded line-up included exciting young English back Henry Arundell on the wing.

However, Curry believes that he was outshone by his Sharks teammate Roebuck.

"My favourite moment was Tom Roebuck's tackle on Henry Arundell," added Curry.

"Henry is not a small boy, a great player, but I was very impressed with Roebuck tonight. He showed a different side of him which perhaps coaches have questioned. I was really happy for him.

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"The work he puts in day in and day out doesn't get seen. He is knocking on the door.

"He was very disappointed after the summer - he came on against Japan and played really well and to get dropped, hit him really hard.

"You can start feeling sorry for yourself or you can show people what you can do. He has gone multiple steps forward since the summer."

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In the evening's other match, Munster fell to a 16-14 defeat against Castres.

The French sider were 10-7 up at the break after tries from Abraham Papalii and Quentin Walker.

John Hodnett crossed twice for the visitors, but it was not enough as Jeremy Fernandez and Louis Le Brun kicked a penalty each to secure the victory.

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