Leicester got their bid for a home Aviva Premiership play-off semi-final back on track by thrashing Sale 48-10 at Welford Road.

The South Africa-born 33-year-old made eight senior appearances for England,

Worcester 13 London Welsh 6

Rugby players, coaches and administrators were today mourning the loss of David Tait, the former Sale forward and Scotland seven-a-side international who fell to his death from an apartment block in Hong Kong. He was 25.

Sale's biggest crowd at the Salford City Stadium they moved into last summer witnessed a fifth loss in eight home matches but the Sharks' obdurate effort against the highly-paid, much-travelled Toulon spared them any hairdryer treatment from their new-old coach John Mitchell or the spectators.

Australia came close to real embarrassment in Florence when they appeared to slip into coasting mode and ended up in a fight to cling on to a 22-19 victory over Italy.

Coach's view: England coach will want to emerge with a clear idea of who he can trust to deliver

The Sale chief executive, Steve Diamond praised his side’s resilience after they ignored the distraction of the club’s off-field difficulties to defeat London Irish 21-9 last night.

Foremost among the many assumptions ahead of the start of this domestic campaign was that newly promoted London Welsh could not possibly win a game without Gavin Henson performing like the world-beater he looked like being before his career disappeared down the celebrity plughole. So much for assumption.

Bath 31 Sale 10

Bath v Sale (Today 2.15pm)

Former reality TV star tells Chris Hewett he is relishing his return to rugby reality with London Welsh

Sale, brimming with ambition ahead of the new Premiership season after making significant strides on and off the field, are hoping to tempt the former England coach Brian Ashton back into big-time rugby.

Sale 10 Harlequins 24