Wasps paraded the Heineken Cup and Zurich Premiership trophies to the crowd before the game. But the injured players carrying them, most notably their former All Black prop Craig Dowd, are being badly missed.
Sale Sharks might have thought they were swimming into dangerous waters with opening games against Leicester and the champions, but England's two leading clubs have felt their bite. This was Wasps' second defeat and, although they are under strength, the hold on their domestic trophy is already starting to look flimsy.
The match was settled by a 40-metre drop goal from Sale's fly-half Charlie Hodgson a minute from time and although Wasps attacked furiously in eight minutes of added time, the visitors' defence held firm. Sale have lost half a pack to Saracens during the summer, but recruited a trio of French hard nuts up front and they look like wise investments.
Also, Steve Hanley, the wing capped only once by Sir Clive Woodward five years ago, continues to run in dazzling tries. A pair of scores, either side of the break and brilliantly finished off, put Sale on course for their second win in seven days.
Wasps' captain Lawrence Dallaglio gave a muted display. He still looks weary from his summer exertions down under, while Matt Dawson, the England scrum-half making his home debut, scored a try and tried vainly to spark his backs. Dawson was impressive and a game of six tries was marvellous entertainment, if that is of any consolation to Wasps supporters.
Sale, buoyed by their unexpected win over Leicester last Sunday, drew first blood, Jason Robinson dropping a smart goal. But the Sale captain was soon called upon to save a try at the other end with a tackle on Josh Lewsey in the corner.
Wasps had barely got over their disappointment when their England prop Tim Payne spilled a pass and Hodgson and Andy Titterell set up a counter-attack finished off by a 40-yard run from Robert Todd, who scored the game's first try.
Hodgson's conversion stretched the visitors' lead to 10 points, however, Peter Richards replied with a smart try and the champions' tails were up. Payne was to make amends for his earlier error when he took Tom Voyce's pass to power over and Wasps were ahead for the first time in the match.
Hodgson's penalty soon reduced the Wasps' lead to a point but the fly-half's marvellous improvised chip that bounced into the hands of the Hanley deserved a try. However, he was not long denied, Hanley intercepting Dallaglio's pass in the middle of the field to run in a long-range try. Alex King's equalising second penalty from the touchline sent the teams into the dressing room level.
Dallaglio was to suffer again just after the interval when Hanley evaded his tackle on the touchline and cut inside Dawson to score his second try.
Dawson scrambled over for his first try for his new club from a maul as the game continued to ebb and flow thrillingly and with King off the field for treatment it was the turn of Mark van Gisbergen to convert from the touchline.
For Wasps there was the heartening sight of their former England hooker Phil Greening returning to the field for the first time in eight months. Greening immediately made his presence felt with the Sale No 8 Sebastien Chabal claiming he had beenbutted by the former Sale player. Dallaglio had complained that last week Wasps had not been aggressive enough but nobody could level that accusation at either side yesterday.
WASPS: Van Gisbergen; Lewsey, Erinle, Richards, Voyce; King (Brooks 46), Dawson; Payne, Gotting (Greening 48), Green (McKenzie 77), Skivington (Hart 60), Birkett, Worsley, O'Connor, Dallaglio (capt).
SALE: Robinson (capt); Cueto, Baxendell, Todd, Hanley (Hercus 48) ; Hodgson, Martens (Redpath 48); Sheridan, Titterell, Turner (Stewart 60), Caillet (Woodman 48), Schofield (White 53), Jones, Lund, Chabal (Bruno 69).
Referee: R Maybank (Kent).
