Clerc brace takes points for Toulouse

Toulouse 36 Sale 17

Vincent Clerc grabbed two tries as Toulouse got their European campaign off to the perfect start against Sale Sharks.

Clerc scored with ease in the 13th and 28th minutes to take his tally to 30 tries in the Heineken Cup at Le Stadium.

The French wing overtakes Cardiff Blues and former Llanelli Scarlets star Dafydd James' try-scoring record in Europe's premier competition.

Maxime Medard handed Toulouse the early advantage with the opening try before Clerc's double - and then the 28-year-old French international set up Yves Donguy for the bonus point two minutes after the re-start.

Donguy added a fifth try in the final quarter for the three-time champions before a spirited Sale grabbed late consolation tries through prop-cum-lock Rob O'Donnell and wing Ben Cohen.

Sharks head coach Kingsley Jones welcomed back scrum-half Dwayne Peel for their tough Pool Five assignment.

British Lion Peel was installed as captain for the Guinness Premiership outfit - who were without the likes of regular captain Dean Schofield, Mark Cueto and Charlie Hodgson through their selection policy or injury.

Sale's second string found life difficult as early as the second minute when Toulouse took the lead through full-back Medard.

Jean-Baptiste Elissalde's cross-kick found Cedric Heymans, whose reverse pass allowed Medard to shrug off the tackle of England World Cup winner Cohen to touch down.

French half-back Elissalde converted from the left touchline to pass through the 400-point barrier in this competition.

Sale briefly halted the surge of attacks and got their first points on the scoreboard through Nick MacLeod's fifth-minute penalty.

But Toulouse got into their stride when Clerc scored his first try to equal James' long-standing record. Florian Fritz made the break in midfield, and after centre partner Yannick Jauzion was held up, Clerc burrowed through MacLeod's last-ditch tackle.

Elissalde converted and added his first penalty in the 23rd minute to put Toulouse 17-3 in front, Sale unable to compete with their hosts' pace and power up front.

But Clerc reached his milestone five minutes later when he capitalised on excellent quick-thinking from the livewire scrum-half.

Elissalde spotted Clerc in oceans of space on the right flank, and his perfectly-weighted cross-kick allowed the wing to score.

Clerc turned provider to set up Donguy for the bonus point.

But Sale kept plugging away - and after their first decent period of possession, Sean Cox went close in the left corner.

Toulouse were not finished and grabbed a fifth try in the 66th minute when Byron Kelleher's intelligent kick through caught Sale cold and Donguy had the pace and footwork to score his second try - before O'Donnell and Cohen crossed for Sale late on.