Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones says his men will be facing a much sterner test when they face Leeds next Sunday.
Sale boss warns against complacency after facile Leeds win
Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones says his men will be facing a much sterner test when they face Leeds next Sunday after their comfortable LV= Cup win.
The Sharks came away with an easy 27-3 win over Leeds on Friday night, but Jones says it will be far tougher when the two sides meet again at Headingley next week.
It will be a Guinness Premiership tie when the two sides do battle again next week, and both sides will recall a number of key men who missed tonight's Anglo-Welsh encounter.
Leeds arrived at a rain-lashed Edgeley Park on the back of successive wins against Wasps and Leicester but a youthful side were no match for a more experienced Sale.
All the points were scored in the first half as the Sharks ran in four first-half tries to secure a bonus-point win which keeps alive their hopes of making the semi-finals.
Carried away
"Let's not get too carried away - it was a great victory at home in the rain and a good performance, but we've really got to come back into work on Monday and be focused for next weekend," warned Jones.
"I'm sure Leeds will go home tonight without too much distress because they will be looking to next Sunday as well.
"We will enjoy tonight, relax but I know next week we will face a much different Leeds side with probably 18 changes to their squad.
"I really respect Leeds because they are acclimatising to the Premiership and they will be tough to beat."
The result was a welcome tonic for Sale ahead of next week's rematch in the Premiership when Leeds will be aiming to claim a first-ever and potentially season-defining victory over the Sharks.
Leeds heart
Leeds director of rugby Andy Key took heart from his side's second-half performance in which they did not concede any points and finished the stronger.
"It's been known since the start of the season that for us consolidation in the Premiership is the most important thing," he said.
"We've given some players a rest and others game time in the cup competitions and we were chuffed tonight with the effort. We could have thrown in the towel at half-time but that's not the spirit of this squad.
"The win at Wasps means we are confident - very confident - and we'll look forward to next week's game with open arms."
