Dan du Preez and Joe Carpenter dotted down in the first half for the hosts who face Irish opposition in the form of Ulster Rugby in the opening round of Heineken Champions Cup action on December 11.

Holding a 15-7 lead at the interval, Sale added three second half tries – a brace from Tom Roebuck and a solitary try from Ewan Ashman as the host earned the bonus point victory.

In reply, London Irish crossed the whitewash twice, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Benhard Janse van Rensburg the scorers in defeat.

In the United Rugby Championship (URC) there was another all-Pool B affair as Ospreys and DHL Stormers held each other in check in a 16-16 draw.

Scott Baldwin for Ospreys and Paul de Wet for DHL Stormers were the try scorers in the contest, with both sides adding 11 points from the tee.

Ospreys host Leicester Tigers in round one December 11, while DHL Stormers make their EPCR competition bow with a trip to ASM Clermont Auvergne on December 10.

Meanwhile, four-time Heineken Champions Cup winners Leinster Rugby ran out 10-0 winners over Connacht Rugby at The Sportsground.

Cormac Foley notched the only try of the contest in the first half with Ross Byrne adding the conversion. Ciaran Frawley booted through a second half penalty to complete the scoring.

Leinster travel to Racing 92 in their opening Heineken Champions Cup game on December 10.

Heineken Champions Cup contenders Sale Sharks produced a ferocious five-try mauling of Pool B rivals London Irish at the AJ Bell Stadium to go top of the Gallagher Premiership on Friday.