Sale inflicted fresh Premiership misery on Wasps by thrashing the English champions 31-3 in Friday's Boxing Day clash.

Sale captain and Argentine back-rower Juan Fernandez Lobbe scored two of Sale's four tries as the north-west side moved up into second-place although, with the rest of the division playing on Saturday, they may not be there long.

England internationals Mark Cueto and Charlie Hodgson scored Sale's other tries with Wasps, now a lowly ninth in the 12-team league, managing a solitary Dave Walder penalty in reply.

Sale director of rugby Phillipe Saint-Andre was pleased by the way in which his side responded to the disappointment of last week's last-gasp loss to title rivals Bath.

"I'm pleased after the disappointment of the robbery of last week," he said.

"We tried to be consistent, we tried a lot of things, we showed a lot of confidence, we took some risks.

"We tried to play rugby in front of a good crowd and scored four tries. I don't think a lot of teams in the Premiership can do this with the flair that we can," said the former France captain, who is leaving Sale at the end of the season.

Sale coach Shaun Edwards had no difficulty in admitting his side had been second best.

"It was quite evident we were outplayed in every department by the form team in the Premiership," he said.

"The second try was a big turning point in the game, if you go 14 points behind there is no way back," said Edwards, who also doubles up as Six Nations champions Wales's defence coach.

"We came up against the best team in England at the moment with all their experienced players out, but I didn't expect us to capitulate like we did," the former Great Britain rugby league international said.

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