It may only be week one, but the reaction of Alex Sanderson and his Sale players at full-time here on a miserable afternoon in Salford underlined just how important the manner of this victory could prove to be in the months ahead.
There is no doubting Sale have made impressive strides in recent seasons and they are capable of playing some fine rugby. But this gritty and attritional victory over a resolute and spirited Harlequins side was simply a case of needs must, amid a backdrop of grey skies and awful conditions which made free-flowing play difficult.
