Chris Jones, BBC Rugby Union correspondent

The Prem has been all about free flowing attack so far this season, but this was much more of an old school dogfight.

A stop-start game dominated by the referee’s whistle, Sale came up with two big plays in the second half: Tom O’Flaherty with a stunning individual score, while Ben Bamber’s try was also a beauty after excellent build-up play.

The big names stepped up for Sale. Courtney Lawes looked his old self in the lineout and on the floor, while Tom Curry was magnificent in the kind of physical scrap he relishes. George Ford managed the game beautifully in the closing stages.

Sarries director of rugby turned wine consultant turned technical director Brendan Venter again handed media duties over to head coach Joe Shaw post-match, but he will talk this week in a bid to avoid further sanctions from Prem Rugby.

Saracens: Daly; J Bracken, Tompkins, Va’enuku, Segun; Burke, Williams; Mawi, Dan, Street, Itoje (c), Tizard, Isiekwe, Gonzalez, Barbeary.

Replacements: Clarke, O’Driscoll, Clarey, Martin, Michelow, Earl, C Bracken, Malins.

Sale: Carpenter; O’Flaherty, Marchant, Lozowski, Reed; Ford, Warr; Smith, Jibulu, Opoku-Fordjour, Van Rhyn (c), Bamber, Lawes, Curry, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Caine, McIntyre, Francis, Tshiunza, Canakaivata, Hanson, Louw, Loganimasi.

Sin-bin: Lozowski (11)

Red card: Vermeulen (18)

Referee: Joe James.