Chiefs not stopping to admire the view

Chiefs are top of the Premiership – though that could change should Saracens beat Wasps – after turning on the jets in the second half against Sale Sharks.

Sale momentarily led after the break when Josh Beaumont added to a first-half try from Will Addison and Danny Cipriani's kicking, but an inspired showing from Will Chudley saw Exeter surge ahead.

Chudley, who had crossed alongside Thomas Waldrom in the first half for Chiefs, added another before Gareth Steenson nudged the hosts in front..

And with a little more than ten minutes to go, James Short surged over for the bonus-point try and Tom Johnson added the gloss to a 33-17 win.

Sandy Park is turning into the proverbial fortress for Exeter, and assistant coach Rob Hunter admitted: "That label is very nice for our supporters because when they come here we want to ensure that they see their side play well and win. We have a good record here because of what we do on the pitch.

"We have a bit to work on after this game especially as we travel to Northampton on New Year's Day – and they lost, so they will be keen to put on a show for their supporters."

"If you are playing into the wind it is very hard work but if you are in touch in or around half-time then you have a chance. It is really difficult for both sides to play into that because the throwing and the kicking just goes out the window."

Sale are stocked full with young English talent such as Will Addison, Mike Haley, Sam James and Beaumont, but Sale Sharks boss Steve Diamond admitted inexperience was a factor at the end.

"We were in it for 60 minutes but then a bit inexperience and lack of composure let us down," he said. "We were probably worthy of a bonus point but those conditions [we played in] were hard.

"We are just missing a little bit of skills at the highest level. Overall, I'm reasonably pleased but we just lost that arm wrestle."