DANIEL Larrechea has escaped with severe bruising on his ankle from Sale's tense 28-27 away victory over Harlequins in the EDF Energy Cup, but David Tait has fractured his leg.

Boss Philippe Saint-Andre had feared his fly-half had broken a bone after he limped off.

There is worse news for back rower Tait, however, who has fractured his fibula and is now aiming for a December comeback.

Saint-Andre, who rested a number of key players including Hodgson, Jason Robinson, Andrew Sheridan and French hooker Sebastien Bruno, said: "We went there and changed a lot of players, a lot of young kids played and we looked OK when we had the ball.

"When you change nine or 10 players it's difficult and the defence was sometimes shaky but I'm pleased with the character of my team and we won the game.

"We have a game against Llanelli at home and if we win we are in the semi-finals.

"I can't say it was a very good performance but I was very pleased with the young guys. There were a lot of positive things."

Gifted

Despite seeing his side, who are still without a win this season, lose for the sixth successive time, there were positive signs for Dean Richards, the Harlequins' director of rugby.

"We scored four tries to three and played a hell of a lot of rugby and should have come away with the win," he insisted.

"But we missed a lot of points with the boot and gifted them two soft tries but it was a better performance and we are starting to play better rugby."

Sharks now top their group after Llanelli Scarlets lost to Newcastle on Friday night.

The injury to Larrechea, who has made an impressive start to his Sale career, comes just a week after the loss of fellow countryman Lionel Faure, who broke his leg in the opening group game against Newcastle.

He was seen as a direct replacement for England prop Andrew Sheridan.

Victory against Llanelli will guarantee Sharks a place in the semi-final, and Scarlets are a team in trouble.

They could even cease to exist by Christmas if the Welsh rugby union does not help out financially.

A proposed move from their famous Stradey Park ground has been scuppered by the Welsh Assembly and the club says that without the move the club could fold.

How do you think Sale are shaping up this season? Have your say.

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