Leinster 37-27 Sale: Leo Cullen’s side recover from sluggish start to secure victory with spirited second half display

• Leinster overcame Sale despite a disappointing first half performance 
• Sale made 12 changes but Leinster still found it a challenge to overcome them 

A power-packed second half saved Leinster’s blushes on Saturday night, as they shook off the gutsy challenge of Sale.

The visitors made 12 changes from the side that hammered Stade Francais in their opening Champions Cup game last weekend, and the expectation was that a full-strength Leinster would make short work of Alex Sanderson’s team.

But it was Leo Cullen who was surely the more worried coach at the interval as Sale took advantage of Leinster sluggishness to lead by two.

It left the sold-out attendance of 18,600 at the RDS struggling to get into the festive spirit, but Leinster eventually came right to run out comfortable winners.

While the final score leaves Leinster looking likely to secure a home tie in the last 16, there was enough rust in their display to leave Cullen and senior coach Jacques Nienaber with plenty to work on over Christmas.

Jamison Gibson-Park scores a try for Leinster during their victory against Sale Sharks

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen will be aware that there is a lot for his team to work on

Tom Curtis (right) scored a try for Sale but his side ended up being beaten by Leinster

Sale had charged into a 13-3 lead helped by a Connor Doherty try, and after Leinster laid siege to the Sale line and came up short, it took a Josh van der Flier score just before half-time to peg the visitors’ lead back to two at the interval.

The second half was a very different story as tries from Jamison Gibson-Park, Robbie Henshaw, Cian Healy and Ryan Baird saw the Sale challenge off but late tries from Tommy Taylor and Tom Curtis were due reward for their efforts.

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