Sale 41-5 Exeter: Hat-trick hero Tom Roebuck runs the show as slick Sale reignite play-off hopes with demolition of Exeter… as the England wing bags bizarre reward from Sharks chief for his efforts

Tom Roebuck hasn’t won an England cap yet, but after spending the whole Six Nations with the national squad, he won himself some expensive new trainers – with a hat-trick to reignite Sale’s Premiership play-off hopes.

The 23-year-old Sharks wing found himself in the shadow of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in the last two months, as Exeter’s new sensation earned a Test debut, touched down against Scotland and had a major hand in an epic victory over Ireland at Twickenham. 

But the roles were reversed in Salford yesterday, as Roebuck claimed a memorable treble and Feyi-Waboso’s lightning strike at the other end proved to be a minor consolation for the overwhelmed Chiefs.

The reward for the uncapped Roebuck is not quite on a par with being picked to play for his country, but he will have a choice addition to his footwear collection.

‘I owe him a brand new pair of Nike Air Max,’ said Alex Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby – who was euphoric after his side claimed a first league win since before Christmas. 

‘I told him that’s what I would buy him if he scored a hat-trick. It’ll cost me £200, but that’s a price worth paying.’

Roebuck set the wheels in motion for this procession, which went a long way to avenging Exeter’s 43-0 win in the reverse fixture last October. After a slick lineout routine gave Sale front-foot ball, Manu Tuilagi and George Ford combined to send the home No 14 hurtling over.

It was part one of his personal trilogy. Part two came just after half-time, as Roebuck won an aerial contest and twisted clear of two defenders before storming down the right wing to score again. The hat-trick should have come in the 58th minute, only for a fumble over the line. But Roebuck took his next chance seconds later, slicing through a gap from a pass by Rob du Preez.

‘I was buzzing to score three, but I could have had four,’ he said afterwards. Assessing what it meant for Sale’s title ambitions – after being losing finalists last season – he added: ‘The dream is still alive.’

Despite spending weeks in camp without being selected for his first England appearance, Roebuck has returned to Sale in good spirits and he has hit the ground running, with four tries in two games. 

‘It’s made a better player by a mile,’ he said, of his Six Nations experience. ‘It was a bit disappointing that I didn’t get to play a game, but that’s not in my control. I need to play as well as I can and wait for the opportunities to come.’

Sanderson can see the improvement in Roebuck, from his time with England, adding: ‘He’s always been ace in the air, that’s what got him into the England squad. What they’ve been working on is his turn of pace and ability to finish. We saw that today. He’s showing more sides to his game.’

Sale showed plenty of sides to their collective game, in this bonus-point win, with the other tries scored by Luke Cowan-Dickie, Gus Warr and Raffi Quirke. England flanker Ben Curry was superb on his comeback – powerful and relentless in attack and defence. 

George Ford controlled proceedings and Manu Tuilagi made dents in midfield. Bevan Rodd and Josh Beaumont also stood out in a dominant home pack.

‘It was s**t or bust time,’ said Sanderson – after Sale joined six other clubs on a tally of eight wins and six defeats in the Premiership. ‘Everyone knew it was do or die for us. We had to find form and now we have it, we have to keep it and bottle it.’

Exeter’s young side were all at sea and their director of rugby, Rob Baxter, offered an honest verdict, saying: ‘Sometimes you just have to take your hidings and move on.’