Tuilagi stars for Leicester
Giant Samoan winger Alesana Tuilagi inspired Leicester to a 29-19 victory over Sale in the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals at the Millennium Stadium.
Tuilagi, 6ft 1in and 18 stone, scored a powerful solo try and created the other for Dan Hipkiss as the Tigers kept their treble trophy hunt alive. Andy Goode also contributed 13 points with the boot.
Sebastien Chabal and Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe both touched down for the Sharks.
Leicester meet Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals next week and are favourites to land the Guinness Premiership title.
They will face either Cardiff Blues or the Ospreys in the second EDF Energy Cup final at Twickenham on April 14.
Conversely, defeat ended Sale's last hope of Heineken Cup qualification after a season which has crumbled under the weight of a vast injury list.
They were a shadow of the side that smashed Leicester 45-20 in last season's Premiership final and could not deal with the latest Tuilagi brother to shine for the Tigers.
