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

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

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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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.”

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.

“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.”