Sale boss Kingsley Jones says his players responded to being labelled also-rans as they beat Leicester.
Sharks respond to also-rans tag by upsetting champions
Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones says that his players responded to being written off as also-rans before the season even started as they beat champions Leicester on Friday.
After failing to reach the play-offs for the last three years and losing some high-profile players during the summer, little is expected from the Sharks this season.
However, they responded in fine style by beating defending Guinness Premiership champions Leicester 15-12 on the opening night of the season.
Lee Thomas kicked all 15 points for the hosts, as Jones said his players found their pre-season criticism a big motivating factor.
"I'm quite happy to carry the tag of underdogs but I'm disappointed the players keep having thrown in their face about the players who have left," Jones said.
Speech
"We are now in September, and I used that in my speech today.
"It's an insult to those guys, when you look at the quality in the room, and suggest we are going to be also-rans because a few guys have left.
"The recruitment was based on guys who are going to give more to the team, and it was our attitude that won us the game."
Jones, who singled out prop Eifion Roberts and replacement Martin Halsall for particular praise, admitted his nerves were frayed in the closing stages.
"With a minute to go, I was wondering why I do this job - and then a minute later I knew why I do this job," he said.
Proud
"The feeling of getting the win, and the effort the players put in, was something I was really proud of.
"We've been underdogs but we showed that we can play as a team. The line-out struggled, but the attitude and the commitment more than made up for it."
Leicester are being widely tipped to retain their crown this season. But they struggled to create genuine try-scoring opportunities at a rain-lashed Edgeley Park in front of the watching England manager and Tigers great Martin Johnson.
Leicester claimed four penalties from debutant fly-half Jeremy Staunton but had to be content with a losing bonus point.
Head coach Richard Cockerill said: "We were in with a shout, and it's credit to the players that they played right to the death.
"If we had won it tonight, I'd have been delighted - but did we really deserve it?"
