He saw Ospreys score 10 unanswered second-half points after a difficult first period, but the Welsh region could not get close enough to register a bonus point in their Pool A opener.

Booth said: “The pleasing side is that we rallied and put our best foot forward, and were aggressive in what we were trying to do and tried to play with ball in hand.

“The frustration is that we had six minutes worth of red-zone territory that we didn’t convert into points, whereas they had two minutes and converted, so ultimately it’s the scoreboard that counts and we need to be clinical. They were and we weren’t.

“There was no surprise from us at the breakdown. We knew how good Sale are at the breakdown. We didn’t have enough pressure which made it more difficult for us.

“There was a lot of good learning in it for us. What I really liked was how we stood toe to toe. On a different day, if we had been more clinical, we would have made it much closer on the outcome.”

Ospreys’ attention now turns to Saturday’s trip to Paris La Defense Arena.

Booth said: “It’s another opportunity to learn about ourselves and what we can do. It’s going to be difficult off a six-day turnaround and they’ve got two days’ extra prep, but it is what it is.”

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth was keen to accentuate the positive as he looked forward to Saturday’s trip to Racing 92 in Round 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup after the 21-13 home loss to Sale Sharks last Sunday.