PHILIPPE Saint-Andre may be bidding Au Revoir to Sale Sharks but on last night's evidence, his players may yet give him a glorious send-off come next May.

The build-up to last night's Heineken Cup clash at Edgeley Park had been completely overshadowed by Thursday's bombshell announcement that Sale's French director of rugby will be departing for pastures new next summer after five successful years in the North West.

However, any questions about the whys and wherefores behind his exit, not to mention the task facing head coach Kingsley Jones when he takes over and what Saint-Andre's departure will mean in terms of player recruitment and departures were firmly laid to rest, at least for 80 minutes, as Sale gained a crucial bonus point victory.

Two tries from skipper Juan Lobbe, who again led from the front in swashbuckling fashion, along with second-half touchdowns from Andy Tuilagi and Eifion Roberts put Sale back on top of Pool One and set them up in style for next week's return trip to France.

As if the off-field coaching merry-go-round wasn't enough pre-match drama to contend with, Sale had also been forced into an 11th hour reshuffle with Scotland star Jason White dropping out of the side after the news that his wife Bev had gone into labour.

However, Montauban's powerd-puff pack was so weak, Big Tam was hardly missed. Given the news of the last 24 hours, it was easy to forget the importance of last night's clash, especially in light of Sale's home loss to Cup holders Munster two months ago in their last group outing.

However, Saint-Andre would have been delighted at the response from his players as they put a wretched Montauban side deservedly to the sword.

Indeed, on last night's shocking evidence it was difficult to believe the French Super 14 side had come within a minute of beating the Munstermen in their opening group match at Thomond Park.

Having lost their last 'Group of Death' pool match at home to Munster, Sale knew only a win would be good enough to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

And with their pack dominating from the word go, it was soon apparent the only question was whether Sale could claim four tries and so earn what could ultimately prove a priceless bonus point.

Once again, Captain Fantastic Lobbe showed his colleagues the way, claiming a fouth minute try, converted by Charlie Hodgson, to help settle any home nerves.

With Sale's forward panzer division on the march, the Argentine number eight repeated the trick on 23 minutes, driving over the visitors' line after a sustained period of pack pressure.

With Hodgson adding a 33rd minute penalty, the visitors sole first-half reply came via Cedric Rosalen's early drop goal. And though the French stand-off narrowed the deficit with a penalty early in the second half it only delayed the inevitable Sale avalanche.

When the third try arrived, Lobbe again provided the trigger, crashing through the Montauban defence before off-loading to the hugely-impressive Andy Tuilagi who raced in to record his first competitive try in Sale colours, Hodgson again converting.

And with Montauban visibly wilting by the minute, Welsh man mountain Eifion Roberts bulldozed in for his debut try and Sale's all-important fourth converted score of the evening. With Sale and a small but noisy crowd in party mood, they set the seal on their biggest win of the seaon two minutes from time when Roussen's kick was charged down inside Montauban's posts with David Tait beating Luke McAlister to the ball, Hodgson again converting.

SALE: Lamont (Tait 65 mins); Cueto; Tuilagi; McAlister; Doherty (Bell 63 mins); Hodgson; Peel (Wigglesworth 54 mins); Faure; (Sheridan 40 mins) Jones (Tait 72 mins); Roberts (Turner 63 mins); Chabal (Cockbain 62 mins); Schofield; Fearns (Tait 28); Briggs; Lobbe

MONTAUBAN: Riva; Figueiredo; Avramovic; Paku; Cassin; Rosalen; Culinat; Delboubles; Arganese; Adams; Murray; Frost; Battut; Clarkin; Soldan

Ref: P Fitzgibbon

Att: 6,962