Akker van der Merwe helps Sale to power-packed win against Bristol

Sale 40-7 BristolDominant pack sets platform for six-try winJust a casual perusal of the team sheets beforehand ought to have given pause. Squad rotation is a fact of life at the moment, but it seemed fairly obvious that Sale were targeting this match more than Bristol were. Sure enough, the home team administered a hiding to the Bears severe enough to take them beyond their visitors into second place. Exeter march on at the top, but in the demure game of musical chairs developing behind them, it is Sale who take a turn as the least distant contenders. Related: Leicester take small positive st…