Caluori-led rampant Saracens annihilate sorry Sale

The Prem

Sale (0) 19

Tries: O'Flaherty (2), Opoku-Fordjour Cons: Ford (2)

Saracens (38) 85

Tries: Segun, Caluori (5), Willis, Carre, Burke, Bracken, Michelow, Malins, Earl Cons: Burke (8), Farrell (2)

A Noah Caluori-inspired Saracens gave their Prem play-off hopes a much-needed boost with a 13-try 85-19 victory over a wretched Sale Sharks at the CorpAcq Stadium.

The flying winger equalled the five tries he scored against the Sharks in the reverse fixture back in October, extending his lead at the top of the league's try-scoring charts to seven scores.

Sale were a shadow of their earlier selves in defence, conceding six first-half tries to Rotimi Segun, Tom Willis, Rhys Carre, Fergus Burke and a brace for Caluori as the visitors dominated all aspects of the game.

The Sharks finally got on the board through Tom O'Flaherty and Asher Opoku-Fordjour after the break, but further scores from Caluori, Charlie Bracken, Nathan Michelow, Max Malins and Ben Earl ensured their largest ever defeat in the league.

With Sale out of play-off contention, a win was vital for Saracens to have any chance of catching Exeter Chiefs, 14 points ahead in fourth at the start of the day, and their intent was clear from the first whistle.

Having made an initial foray into Sharks' territory, Segun was fed by Olly Hartley before stepping back inside to leave would-be tacklers Gus Warr and Rob du Preez clutching at thin air.

Sale's defensive frailty was exposed once again with Malins breaking through the home defensive line with ease before the ball went through the hands allowing the Caluori to dot down for his first.

Mark McCall's men sensed blood and, following another period of Saracens pressure in the Sale 22, Willis bounced through an initial tackle before stretching out to score.

Sale, still looking for their first league win of 2026, were stunned, dominated at the breakdown in the absence of the Curry brothers and Dan du Preez.

Unable to slow Saracens' quick ball, they conceded a fourth try to Carre, the prop powering over after a well worked line-out move.

Burke soon added a fifth, escaping yet another poor tackle attempt to kick ahead and regather close to the posts.

On the verge of half-time, the tries just kept on coming. With the tiring Sale defence in disarray, Malins fed Calouri on the wing to dive over Warr's despairing tackle to leave Sharks boss Alex Sanderson with much to consider at the break.

With the game gone, Sale knew they had to score next to restore any semblance of pride.

Following quick hands in the midfield between Ernst van Rhyn and Ethan Caine, the ball ended up in the hands of O'Flaherty, who bounced through three defenders to stretch over.

But it did not take Saracens long to reassert their dominance.

Bracken added a seventh before Caluori took over the game, intercepting du Preez in midfield for his hat-trick score before adding a further two tries in the corner as Sale's missed tackle count reached 40.

With Sale's defence a non-entity at this point, Michelow spun through as Saracens crossed the 70-point mark before Malins got Sarries' 12th score, diving on the ball after O'Flaherty dropped it in his own 22.

Earl then bagged yet another Saracens score in between Sale consolations from O'Flaherty and Opoku-Fordjour to cap a historic afternoon for Mark McCall's men.

The result leaves Saracens in sixth, five points below Bristol in fifth while Sale stay seventh, with very little chance of being able to catch those above them.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall:

"Noah's performance – including his ability to get us over the gain line – showed what a handful he is with the ball in addition to his finishes.

"A couple of his tries took some finishing and he was very strong aerially too.

"He's got a strong family who keep him grounded but he's grounded anyway and a great kid.

"He's doing well and obviously today's game blew out a little bit but I think that performance today was one of the better wing performances that I've seen in the Prem for a long time – and I've seen a lot."

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson:

"I'll take my part in it. I am leading this group and clearly I was not able to get the boys motivated enough for what we wanted from the next eight to nine weeks.

"I was not able to push those buttons, ask the right questions or bring the group together because we did not play like a team.

"I think we just turned up today and, after a poor start, looked to stick in and survive.

"I didn't think we were at the races at all from a mentality and physical perspective and that bled through all aspects of our game: set-piece, aerially, gain line. We were well beaten, battered actually."

Sanderson said he remains confident he can take the club forward into next season with several new signings including Courtney Lawes set to join Sale in the summer.

"I'm confident I can take them forward, 100 per cent I can. If I felt like I was losing the group then that's a different question – I would just walk.

"But at the moment internally we're very tight and we feel like we've got the answers moving forward."

Sale: R du Preez; O'Flaherty, Louw, Ma'asi-White, Roebuck; Ford, Warr; Opoku-Fordjour, Caine, Harper; van Rhyn (c), Bamber, Vermuelen, Gilmore, Dugdale.

Replacements: Longstaff, McEachran, Raymont, Hodkinson, Logan, Hanson, Bedlow, Woodman.

Saracens: Malins; Caluori, Tompkins, Hartley, Segun; Burke, Bracken; Carre, George, Street; Itoje (c), Tizard, McFarland, Earl, Willis.

Replacements: Dan, Mawi, Riccioni, Wilson, Michelow, van Zyl, Farrell, Hall.

Referee: Christophe Ridley.