JASON Robinson lifted the mood at a strangely subdued Edgeley Park as his stunning try booked Sharks a trip to the Millennium Stadium next March.

The English champions will face arch-rivals Leicester Tigers in the EDF Cup semi-finals after sweeping aside Llanelli Scarlets 21-5 to top their group.

But their passage to the knockout stages was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.

Sale had toiled with only limited success against their Welsh opponents, enjoying plenty of possession thanks to their juggernaut pack but struggling to find the killer instinct that has too often been lacking in recent weeks.

That was until Robinson provided a touch of twinkle-toed magic. As has so often been the case in the past, the diminutive full back, now in the twilight of his career, landed the decisive blow, side-stepping and shimmying his way past three Llanelli defenders to touch down in the corner.

And considering the demise of his namesake Andy in recent weeks, it was a timely reminder of what England have been missing since the Sale captain's international retirement almost 15 months ago.

Robinson has already dropped hints about a possible return but if anything was to represent a true come and get me' plea, it was just such a piece of individual brilliance.

"Jason is a born winner, you can see that in all the big games," gushed director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre. "Last year against Wasps in the Premiership semi-final he scored a try and today he has done it again.

"He's our leader, our captain and a fantastic player and I'm glad to have him in the squad."

That said, Sale's victory was about more than Robinson.

The home pack trampled all over their visiting counterparts, with particularly impressive performances in the back row from Juan Fernandez Lobbe and Sebastien Chabal - the Frenchman for the most part rediscovering the verve and aggression that made him such a hit last season.

The Sale number 8 even had a hand in his side's first try. Scarlets prop Iestyn Thomas was sin-binned for killing the ball and Sale gained the upper hand at a five-metre scrum, Chabal flicking the ball up to Sililo Martens at the base who powered his way over.

Sale's failure to make more of their dominance was mainly due to their faltering backline - which has been hit by a string of injuries in recent weeks - and in equal measure, the kicking of Daniel Larrechea, who missed three penalties, a conversion and a drop goal.

Llanelli hit back with a try from Thomas, this time after Stuart Turner had been sent to the sin-bin. Aled Gravelle was held up after some outstanding Sale defence but Thomas was driven over by the visiting pack soon after.

It was, however, another Thomas who soon took centre stage. Sale's Lee resumed kicking duties from his luckless colleague Larrechea and kicked three penalties to ease his side's nerves.

There were further chances to breach the Scarlets' line, Chris Jones knocking on after stooping to collect Mark Cueto's grubber kick and Chris Mayor being hauled down close to the line.

But it was left to Robinson to sign off in style and put Sale on course to Cardiff.

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