Sean O'Brien's hat-trick ensures Connacht continue to build under Stuart Lancaster

Connacht’s Sean O’Brien scores their fourth try. Pic: ©INPHO/Paul Currie.

Sale Sharks 5 Connacht 40

It’s easy to see why Connacht supporters are excited about Stuart Lancaster taking charge as they followed up their nine-try drubbing of Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears by ousting Sale Sharks by six tries to one in their second and final pre-season game.

Neither side featured their Lions in a game which took place at Sale’s original ground at Heywood Road in Sale, but Connacht held an edge throughout the contest.

Former Blackrock College and Leinster academy back rower Sean O’Brien powered over for a hat-trick — just a week after Sean Jansen did likewise in the rout of Bristol.

Connacht were good value for their 14-0 interval lead after a good opening half which saw them get off the mark from a driving maul after 13 minutes when O’Brien scored and Jack Carty added the conversion.

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster speaks to the team after the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Paul Currie

Connacht, 54-12 winners in a training match away to Bristol Bears last week in a game played behind closed doors at their training ground, doubled their lead before the break when Caolin Blade scored after being set up by centre Cathal Forde and Carty again added the extras.

Shamus Hurley-Langton followed up his try against Bristol to break through for Connacht’s third try after the restart with another replacement Josh Ioane adding the conversion.

O’Brien got his second try of the night after 66 minutes which Ioane again converted to push the lead out to 28-0 against a Sale Sharks side in their first outing of the pre-season.

Winger Obi Ene pulled back a try for Sale but Connacht hit back for O’Brien to complete his hat-trick with four minutes remaining.

Hurley-Langton got his second try to complete an impressive win after going to the corner.

Scorers

Sale Sharks: Try: O Ene.

Connacht: Tries: S O’Brien (3), S Hurley-Langton (2), C Blade. Cons: J Ioane (3) J Carty (2).

Sale Sharks: T Curtis; T O’Flaherty, R du Preez, R Ma’asi-White, O Ene; O Davies, R Quirke; S McIntyre, T McElroy, J Harper; B Bamber, H Andrews; J Vermeulen, T Woodman, S Dugdale. Replacements: E Caine, T Onasanya, P Bell, P Hogg, J Gilmore, F Chatterton, D Hanson, N Thomas, T Wilson, S Bedlow, J Bedlow, A Bradshaw.

Connacht: S Naughton; C Mullins, D Hawkshaw, C Forde, S Bolton; J Carty, C Blade; D Buckley, D Tierney-Martin, J Aungier; D Murray, J Murphy; C Prendergast, S O’Brien, S Jansen. Replacements: E de Buitléar, J Duggan, S Illo, N Murray, D O’Connor, P Boyle, S Hurley-Langton, B Murphy, J Ioane, S Walsh, B Ralston, S Jennings, C Reilly, D Ryan, M Victory.