Toulon's Federick Michalak cuts through the Sharks defence © Getty Images

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Matches: Toulon 62 - 0 Sale Sharks

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: England | France | Sale Sharks | Toulon

Sale director of rugby John Mitchell has questioned the character of some of his players and sent out an ominous warning to his squad following their Heineken Cup thumping at Toulon.

The French side ran in nine tries in a humiliating 62-0 defeat for the Sharks at the Stade Felix Mayol. It was Sale's 12 defeat from 15 games this season and as well as sitting second bottom in Pool Six in Europe, they are six points adrift of London Irish at the foot of the Aviva Premiership table.

"The team is disappointed, as well as individuals with their own performances," he said. "I've been looking at this group of players ahead of the Christmas period and I certainly know a lot more about some individuals after that performance.

"Some of the characters have been revealed and I don't have a lot of choice in some positions. But we don't have any regrets - we got what we deserved. Toulon were exceptional.

"All the defensive work we did in the first half took its toll. We were there for 35 minutes but we gave them two soft tries through the same channel and unfortunately against a side like Toulon you can't afford to do that.

"We were coming here looking to build on the previous performance at home, but that wasn't achieved and we are very disappointed."