Ben Tapuai's try brace sealed Harlequins' 51-23 bonus-point Gallagher Premiership win to kick-start life under Paul Gustard, as Sale's Tom Curry handed England a head-injury scare.

Centre Tapuai capped his Quins debut with a smart double as wing Nathan Earle also dotted down on his club bow, with Joe Marchant, Marcus Smith and Max Crumpton rounding off the six-try, five-point victory.

Young England playmaker Smith racked up 26 points in an enterprising performance that again underscores the 19-year-old's promise.

Fly-half AJ MacGinty bagged a try in an 18-point haul for Sale, who also had former Quins wing Marland Yarde claiming a storming score on his first return to The Stoop.

England flanker Tom Curry collided head-first into the airborne Quins full-back Aaron Morris, who was fielding a kick-off, and was removed from the field by a stretcher after eight minutes' treatment.

The 20-year-old is among England's brightest young prospects, and Test coach Eddie Jones will want him back in action as soon as possible.

For Quins this victory represents the first step towards rehabilitation after a miserable season last year - the Twickenham men finished 11th in the league and boss John Kingston paid with his job.

Former Saracens coach Gustard has been recruited from England's defence role and tasked with rebuilding the rubble, and this triumph represents a solid start to what could prove a laborious job.

Tapuai crashed home to spark the game to life, but not before Curry had been removed by a stretcher after colliding with Morris.

No blame could be apportioned to either party in Curry's injury, but the England flanker still wound up with a seemingly concerning head issue.

MacGinty's try and conversion had Sale level at 10-10 next, as Quins gifted the visitors a route back into the contest.

Yarde then struck in fine style, tearing away and trading passes with Will Cliff before racing under the posts, and all courtesy of a counter-attack initiated by a Chris Robshaw knock-on.

A frustrated Morris scythed through Sale's 13 channel in an immediate riposte, before sending debutant Earle in at the right corner.

MacGinty thought his late penalty would be enough to claw Sale a half-time lead next - only for Quins to squeeze in a third score before the break.

Robshaw pilfered the ball at a breakdown midway inside the Sale half and Joe Marchant raided down the left. Then Care ghosted along the advantage line and floated out a cute pass to Tapuai, who cut inside and barrelled over the line for his second score.

Quins took a 24-20 lead into the second-half then, and two quick Smith penalties pushed that advantage to 10 points.

Centre Marchant bundled home Quins' bonus-point score just ahead of the hour, before the hosts had to soak up sustained Sale pressure.

Replacement centre Paul Lasike snaffled an intercept though, and Quins were able to kill off the tie.

Smith capped the considered break with Quins' fifth score, converting the try to boot.