Already seven points in front from the first leg in Galway, the Sharks never looked troubled by a Connacht side outmuscled up front and outpaced in the backs.

England fly-half Charlie Hodgson collected a personal haul of 24 points and winger Mark Cueto scored a hat-trick of tries as the Sharks set up a May 21 meeting with French side Pau at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium.

Sale’s forwards laid the platform for their backs to play with their customary freedom with Jason White and Chris Jones outstanding throughout in a Sale eight which strangled the life out of their Irish opponents.

Connacht kept in touch in the early stages as fly-halves Hodgson and Paul Warwick kicked two penalties apiece to make the score 6-6 after 16 minutes.

Sale got the reward for their forward dominance in the 28th minute when scrum-half Bryan Redpath stole the ball at the base of a Connacht scrum and slipped a delightful pass to Hodgson, who skipped past two Connacht tackles and went over in the corner. Hodgson was unable to convert his own try.

Connacht were further hampered two minutes later when Christian Short was sin-binned for handling in a ruck – a symptom of Sale’s forward control.

A trademark Jason Robinson jinking run set up field position for the Sharks, before the England captain dropped back into the pocket and slotted a sublime dropped goal from 25 metres – his third of the season.

Connacht fought gamely under the weight of Sharks pressure, and responded with a long range Mark McHugh penalty in the 37th minute.

Sale struck back straight away with a searing break by England winger Cueto. The ball was moved left to Andrew Sheridan, and the Sharks prop showed why Clive Woodward has selected him for the Lions tour this summer, with a perfectly weighted pass for Andy Titterrell to score in the corner.

Hodgson’s touchline conversion, followed by a long-range penalty, made the score 24-9 to the Sharks.

Sale struck again just before the break when Robert Todd intercepted a Michael Swift pass and allowed Steve Hanley to run in from 50 metres. Hodgson converted to make the game safe by half-time at 31-9.

The second half started in the same vein as the first had ended with Cueto going over twice in the opening nine minutes of the half. Hodgson converted both tries from wide out to make it 45-9 to the Sharks.

Scotland flanker White earned reward for his outstanding day’s work when he was driven over by a rampant Sale pack in the 59th minute.

The game lost some shape in the final 20 minutes as the Sharks eased off the gas, but their was still time for Cueto to score his third try – despite what appeared to be a blatant knock on by Jones.