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Alex Sanderson: 'It continues to fuel me and anger me'

By PA
Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks – Gallagher Premiership – Ashton Gate

Alex Sanderson says Sale Sharks are being fuelled by a “super-computer” dismissing them as Gallagher Premiership play-off contenders.

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Sale will end 2024 in third place, consolidating a top-four spot following their stunning 38-0 victory over title rivals Bristol at Ashton Gate.

It was the first time since 2016 that Bristol had failed to score a point in Premiership action, leaving Sale strongly-positioned at the domestic season’s halfway point.

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    Stormers Director of Rugby gives some details on the latest setback suffered by Springbok star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

    Only three rounds of league action ago, though, Sale were given just a nine per cent chance of reaching the play-offs by Premiership Rugby’s data and analytics provider.

    That compared with Saracens’ 85 per cent, while Bath and Leicester also received more than an 80 per cent rating of reaching the competition’s knockout phase, and Bristol registered 61 per cent.

    “In the mid-point (of the Premiership season) you can look at the league and say these are the teams that are in the running,” Sale rugby director Sanderson said.

    “Not five weeks ago, when the super-computer gave us all those chances of making the play-offs.

    “Nine per cent we got, and we have used that to fuel us.

    “We will let our performances speak for ourselves and we will see where we are in May and June. At the moment, it continues to fuel me and anger me.”

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    Although it is 18 years since Sale won the Premiership title, beating Leicester 45-20, they have been regular challengers in recent seasons.

    Sharks reached the play-offs in 2021 and 2024, and were 2023 finalists, losing 35-25 against Saracens.

    Sanderson added: “I just don’t think we are rated. I don’t understand why we are not rated.

    “We have been in semi-finals year in, year out, barring one year in the last four years, and the final.

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    “Maybe it is because we are not the most flashy or the most fashionable. You tell me.

    “They are a great bunch of lads, they work really hard and they play some great rugby, but it is never written about in favourable terms.

    “We will continue to do what we do, and we will change minds and hearts, slowly.

    “If you want to beat teams as good as Bristol, or any in the upper echelon of the Premiership, your set-piece is key – as is your defence – and you can layer things on the back of that.

    “But those two things make you competitive, and when you start to get a few game-breakers in your team – Raffi Quirke was exceptional (against Bristol), Tom Roebuck continues to score and impress and Fordy (George Ford) steers the ship – they are the game-breakers I am talking about.”

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    fl 23 minutes ago
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    “A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

    Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


    “The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

    I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


    “Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

    I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


    “The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

    I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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    JW 4 hours ago
    French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

    Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


    They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


    That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

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