James O'Connor scores on Sale Sharks debut in rout of Gloucester

James OConnor dives over the line to score a try on his Sale Sharks debut

Australian international James O'Connor touched down on his Sale Sharks debut as his new side thrashed Gloucester 57-10 at the AJ Bell Stadium.

O'Connor came on in the second half with Sale 22-3 in front thanks to Denny Solomona and Byron McGuigan (twice) who went over.

That was despite the Cherry and Whites dominating possession in the first period, but all Johan Ackermann's men could muster was a single penalty by Billy Burns.

The Sharks went on to dominate the rest of the match and completed the rout via Faf de Klerk, Solomona, O'Connor, Sam James and McGuigan as the Manchester outfit secured their second win of the campaign.

Gloucester had the final word through John Afoa but it was a chastening evening for the visitors.

Sale looked dangerous right from the kick-off and made the perfect start. Prop Alexandru Tarus twice acted as first receiver and, on the second occasion, it opened the space for Bryn Evans to send Solomona clear.

Denny Solomona breaks through to score his second try

Plenty of work still needed to be done but the winger is one of the best finishers in the Aviva Premiership and, after chipping the ball ahead, he just about managed to stay infield and cross the whitewash.

Unperturbed, the visitors hit back and Burns reduced the arrears to four points almost immediately. Willi Heinz then went on a mazy run, evading the attempted tackles of several defenders but, despite persistent pressure, the visitors failed to capitalise.

Sale duly benefited from Gloucester's profligacy and scored with their next attack when De Klerk's intelligent kick was well controlled by McGuigan, who touched down.

After having the majority of possession and territory, Gloucester were beginning to get frustrated and that may have contributed to Billy Twelvetrees' errant pass, which led to the Sharks' third try.

Ackermann's team had space on the right but the England international managed to pick out the only opposition defender as McGuigan rose highest to grasp the ball and scamper clear.

Byron McGuigan of Sale Sharks breaks away to score his third try against Gloucester

AJ MacGinty was awry with the conversion - his first and only miss of the evening - but the stand-off did find the target from the tee just shy of the interval to increase the buffer to 19 points.

Matters soon worsened for Gloucester in the second half via Twelvetrees' yellow card and the hosts effectively sealed victory when De Klerk went over from close range.

The Manchester side were now rampant and two further quick-fire scores from Solomona and O'Connor increased the embarrassment for the Kingsholm-based outfit.

Gloucester continued to search for that elusive try but they gifted James and McGuigan - his hat-trick effort - scores of their own via two intercepts.

The visitors did finally get across the whitewash through Afoa but they had been thoroughly outplayed by the Sharks.