If this is indeed more or less the side that has to hold the fort during the autumn internationals and Six Nations, then the Frenchman may have a few sleepless nights ahead. For it was his counterpart Rob Andrew who left Kingston Park this evening grinning like the Cheshire Cat after a five try work-out, which saw Mathew Tait named man of the match for a sizzling display on the wing and the return – yet again - of Jonny Wilkinson, after having his appendix removed just three weeks previously.

This ‘Pool C’ (the three northern Premiership sides plus Llanelli Scarlets) encounter saw the first appearance of the season for Sale of Steve Hanley, at full-back, while summer signings Nick Wakley and Lionel Faure also featured. For the Falcons, Toby Flood came in for his first start for the 1^st XV at fly half, while a new front row was installed in the not insignificant shapes of David Wilson and Tino Paoletti as the props and Matt Thompson at hooker.

There was a rather muted atmosphere around the ground at kick off, although a crowd of a shade under 5,000 was perhaps better than might have been expected given the dire fare served up in the previous two Guinness Premiership games at home, the fact that this game was not included in the Falcons season ticket package and the general feeling of apathy – and in some cases outright hostility - which has greeted the new format of the domestic cup competition. The pleasant early autumn weather may have been a factor…or perhaps there was nowt on tele.

As Owen Finegan steadied himself to take the hoisted kick-off, a hush descended as the assembled faithful recalled the hash he made of the opening play the previous week against Bath. This was even worse! Collective hearts sank as the big Aussie, sporting a school boy-esque haircut, dropped the ball, knocking on in the process. This though was one of relatively few disappointments in what proved to be a pretty decent game of rugby. Things soon got better. In only the second minute skipper Colin Charvis made a telling break and after a fizzing pass by Flood, Mathew Tait burst through to touch down. Flood converted and this was just the start the crowd wanted.

Sale regrouped but on 5 minutes failed with a drop goal attempt after some decent phases. The Falcons began to turn up the heat, with Flood catching the eye with his choice of pass. Two penalties were won and, in a real statement of intent, both were kicked deep into the Sale 22. With Matt Thompson throwing-in well and Geoff Parling and Andy Perry dominant this was much better stuff. This must have been heartening for Rob Andrew who had talked in the build-up of working hard to fix obvious problems upfront. On 8 minutes came a second Falcons try, this the first for what seems like an eternity from Hall Charlton, a sniping effort following a powerful drive by the pack in black. Matt Burke converted to make it 14-0 and it was looking very promising indeed.

But this is the Falcons of course and nothing comes easy. We took our foot off the gas. On 10 minutes Corry Harris was penalised for crossing, but Sale turned down the three points and our defence was able to hold out. Two minutes later though, Daniel Larrachea reduced the deficit after another penalty was awarded.

On 24 minutes a third Falcons try looked inevitable after Matt Burke broke from a flowing cross field move but Anthony Elliott took his eye off the ball and knocked on when he would have had an easy run in to the corner. On 27 minutes Larrachea nailed another penalty – this a thumping effort from 50 metres – to make it 14-6. Five minutes later it was 14-9 and one or two anxious glances were being exchanged. It was a fact though that Sale had not really threatened the try line despite a period of relative pressure. The Falcons increased their efforts in response and after a series of powerful drives and intense pressure a Sale infringement was inevitable. Burke calmly slotted home the resulting penalty. With the half drawing to close Jamie Noon produces a stunning tackle to prevent a dangerous-looking Sale break on half-way. At half-time the Falcons were 17-9 to the good and playing by far the better rugby.

The second half opened with Micky Ward and Robbie Morris on for David Wilson and Tino Paoletti. For a few minutes there was the feeling of this going Bath-shaped, as Thompson’s line-out radar went haywire. Sale then appeared to lose their discipline when a more measured approach might have borne fruit. First John Carter went for 10 minutes in the cooler for needlessly throwing a punch in a maul. Then, after a series of powerful rolling mauls, Tait burst through but was just prevented from scoring. The referee spotted more monkey business at the breakdown and Nathan Bonner Evans got his sin-bin marching orders. With two-thirds of their back-row having a sit down, the men in white were up against it and the Falcons made the numbers count with another Burke try out wide. The Aussie missed the conversion and it was 22-9.

On 55 minutes Jonny Wilkinson entered the fray, on for Mark Mayerhofler, with Toby Flood moving to inside centre. Another statement of intent was made as Wilkinson immediately launched an absolute missile into touch to huge cheers from the crowd. Andy Long replaced Matt Thompson who had played very well in the first half before a few wobbles set-in.

On 64 minutes Geoff Parling made another of his trademark bursts and, after a sizzling Wilkinson pass, Burke scorched through the remains of the Sale defence for his second try - a real knife through butter effort. Wilkinson took over the kicking duties to add the extras to make it 29-9.

With quick ball from Hall Charlton and sublime handling from Wilkinson, Sale were increasingly under the cosh. A couple of penalties were conceded holding-on to the ball as they struggle to manufacture any attacking threat from their own half. With the Falcons turning the screw and en-camped in the Sale 22 another score seemed to be only a matter of time. With 10minutes to go, the half-backs combined sweetly out wide, with Wilkinson fooling the defender with deft hands to send Hall Charlton in for his second try of the match. Wilkinson sent the conversion just wide. 34-9.

With 5 minutes remaining Luke Gross took over from Andy Perry, who left the pitch to a generous round of applause - the former Plymouth lock having had his best game so far in a Falcons shirt – his line-out work being particularly good. Mike McCarthy replaced Owen Fingean and Lee Dickson came on for Hall Charlton – who was probably unlucky not to get the man of the match award. The game ended moments after Wilkinson had tested out his kicking from hand again with another missile into touch from his own 22.

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