JASON ROBINSON: Assured of his place in history as the first player to win Grand Finals in both rugby codes, Billy Whizz had a relatively quiet afternoon with Charlie Hodgson calling most of Sharks' attacking shots via the boot. But was always safe and assured with his handling despite the appalling conditions 7

MARK CUETO: The England winger got Sale off to the perfect start with his albeit fortuitous eighth minute try. Allied his strength and speed to great effect all afternoon and also ensured that Tigers' dangerous wing rival Tom Varndell was firmly kept in check 7

MARK TAYLOR: The damp, dank conditions were home from home for the Wales centre and he made his mark with a couple of piledriver tackles on Leicester backs Geordan Murphy and Alesana Tuiligala before making way for Chris Mayor with victory in the bag 7

ELVIS SEVEALI'I: A tactical, kicking game by Sale meant the Samoan saw less of the ball than he would have wanted but he still made a telling contribution with his solid defence and quick distribution before being replaced late on 6

ORIOL RIPOL: Destined to be Spain `s most famous rugby export after his Twickenham exploits. Profited from Hodgson's touch of genius to score Shark's crucial third try late in the first half and was in inspired form all afternoon both with his support play and defensive duties 8

CHARLIE HODGSON: Six penalties, a conversion and drop goal tell only half the story of Hodgson's fly-half master-class. Recovered from the shock of seeing his early error allow Leicester to score a try to orchestrate Sale's vintage display and his dummy and pass to set up Ripol's try was just breath-taking 9

RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH: Though Hodgson was the official man-of-the-match, unheralded scrum-half Wigglesworth must have run him close. He was immense from the off, with his quicksilver breaks, pin-point kicking and razor-sharp eye for the half-chance which helped create Magnus Lund's try. Such was his dominance, Leicester's England counterpart Harry Ellis was dragged off early in the second-half 9

LIONEL FAURE: Sale's dominance was total in the pack and amply demonstrated by French pocket powerhouse Faure who more than had the measure of England rival Julian White, though most of his best work went unseen 7

ANDY TITTERELL: Was only the field for 52 minutes but that was more than enough time to demonstrate that he is surely now England's number one hooker. A thorn in the Leicester pack throughout, what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in pace, agility and speed of thought 8

STUART TURNER: A yeoman of the pack and one of Sale's longest-serving players, the 34-year-old showed there is plenty of life left in his battle-hardened frame as, in tandem with Titterrell and Faure, he helped boss the front-row and won his own personal duel with Graham Rowntree before making way for Barry Stewart 7

CHRIS JONES: The 6ft 6in second row giant chose the perfect platform to fire a reminder of the form that helped earn him six England caps. Dominant in the line-out and lightning fast in the loose 7

IGNACIO LOBBE: Probably the quietest member of the rampant Sharks pack, the Argentine international still did his bit to nullify the Leicester threat before being replaced at half-time by Dean Schofield 6

JASON WHITE: The Scotland captain took a while to warm up but once he hit his stride, he demonstrated once again why he was voted the Players' Player of the Year earlier this month. Made some huge hits on the Leicester backs, one in particular on Andy Goode was probably felt back at Edgeley Park! 7

MAGNUS LUND: Another worthy candidate for the man of the match accolade. The rise and rise of young Magnus (pictured below) shows no sign of stopping. Got his individual reward when he latched onto Wigglesworth's incisive kick to outsprint Goode and score a vital first-half try. On this evidence, a glittering international future awaits the 22-year-old product of the Sale Jets side 9

SEBASTIEN CHABAL: Mean, moody and magnificent, as ever. The talisman and heartbeat of the Sale pack and the man who, on the pitch, personifies the Sharks revolution instigated by coach Phillipe Saint Andre. Long before the end, the stands were reveberating to the chants of `Seabass'. 8

Replacements

CHRIS MAYOR (Taylor 67): Applied the icing to the Sharks' Grand Final cake by sliding over in the 80th minute for their final try 7

VALENTIN COURRENT (Seveali'i 78): Applied last minute conversion to Mayor's try to bring the curtain down in style on what was his last appearance for Sale before his move to Toulouse.

BEN FODEN (Wigglesworth 74): Had little time to make an impact but lapped up the occasion and celebratory atmosphere.

SEBASTIEN BRUNO (Titterrell 51): A more than adequate replacement for Titterrell, the French international helped maintain Sale `s dominance in the scrum and at the line-out 7

BARRY STEWART (Turner 52): The Scotsman revelled in the occasion and the conditions and added to Leicester's Julian White's misery 7

DEAN SCHOFIELD (Lobbe 40): Replaced Lobbe in the second row after half-time and you couldn't see the join. While the Leicester forwards wilted under the Sale onslaught, Schofield helped ensure the pressure never let up 7

CHRISTIAN DAY (Chabal 66-75): A blood replacement for Chabal, Day was another of Sale's young brigade to make the most of the showpiece occasion.

LEICESTER: Murphy; Tuilagi (Vesty 47); Smith (Lloyd 64); Gibson; Varndell; Goode; Ellis (Healy 53); Rowntree Holford 60); Chuter (Buckland 63); White; Cullen (Hamilton 55); Kay; Jennings (Deacon 53); Moody; Corry

Attendance: 58,000

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