Sanderson still smarting from European display

ALEX Sanderson admits he still feels frustrated by Sale's Champions Cup defeat at the hands of five-time winners Toulouse.

- KIERAN CRICHARD

The Sharks were dispatched 45-19 in France, with the director of rugby admitting the defeat was of their own making.

"We set them loose. We set a team loose who are one of the best club rugby sides in the world with turnover ball and space. That's what we gifted them," he said.

"We didn't convert or execute the opportunities we created. Those two things tend to blow the scoreline out which is what we saw.

"There are always things you can do differently planning-wise but there is not a lot that we would have done differently.

"We thought we got a lot of the elements in the week right. But like everyone, we were hammered with the (freezing) conditions ahead of the game.

"We hadn't trained at the training ground in 10 days leading up to the match. Those things take their toll, as do late changes to the squad, but I'm about to start making excuses and I never have done.

"We were not good enough on the day - 26 turnovers and a 19 per cent conversion rate in the opposition 22 which tells the story."