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'Alex Sanderson slammed Wayne Barnes was not what I was doing'

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Alex Sanderson has taken issue with media headlines claiming that he slammed referee Wayne Barnes in the wake of last Friday’s Gallagher Premiership loss by Sale at Bristol. The Sharks lost out 32-15 at Ashton Gate and what the director of rugby said in the aftermath of a match where his team had two tries ruled out was construed as an attack on the veteran official, who was officiating in his 250th English league game

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Sanderson’s hot take in the immediate aftermath of the loss that left his team adrift in tenth place on the table was: “Any loss is a concern. I don’t see home and away as being any point of difference. It might influence the referee, and I think it might have tonight, maybe.

“He’s one of the world’s best, but I couldn’t fathom some of those decisions around the scrum. I would have to have another look because there are a lot of moving parts to it. I will have a look at it and go through the proper channels.”

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Francois Hougaard guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

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Francois Hougaard guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

This view of Sanderson resulted in headlines such as ‘Alex Sanderson slams Wayne Barnes over scrum calls’, ‘Sale give referee Wayne Barnes a mauling over scrum calls’ and ‘Sanderson homes in on refereeing after Bristol regain form’. 

It’s the sort of negativity that could pique the interest of RFU officials who this week have called Northampton boss Chris Boyd and Jersey Reds coach Harvey Biljon to account for alleged prejudicial conduct relating to their comments on the match officials following recent games.

Sanderson hasn’t heard if his comments will land him in a spot of disciplinary bother but he admitted he was p****d off with the headlines they generated, insisting that he hadn’t slammed Barnes and might now have to be less forthcoming in his opinions for fear that they get misrepresented again by the media.

Asked by RugbyPass might he have heard from the RFU regarding what he had to say last weekend, Sale boss Sanderson said: “Not as yet because I didn’t slam him. I said, ‘I couldn’t fathom’. It’s not to say he got it wrong, it’s that I didn’t understand his decisions. You take that in whatever context and you write whatever headline you did but Alex Sanderson slammed Wayne Barnes was not what I was doing. 

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“Every coach in the land understands that an away fixture with an away crowd can influence officials and I said, ‘Officials’. It wasn’t insinuating Wayne Barnes because there were two tries there which were called by TMO and not Wayne Barnes yet for some reason, well it’s your job to sensationalise, isn’t it? 

“So I haven’t spoken to him [Barnes] yet. I will speak to him about it. I am still somewhat dumbfounded about some of those decisions but, like I said, I will speak to him. I spoke to him straight after the game and we agreed to catch up this week so that is on the agenda. I am not taking back what I said because what I said was the truth. 

“I am aware that you are not allowed to call officials directly about the decision making which I didn’t, it was about my understanding. If anything you can quote me about being a DoR who doesn’t understand the game well enough. I guess that is another way of writing headlines.”

Asked might it affect his general openness when discussing rugby with the media, Sanderson added: “It definitely opens my eyes moving forward to probably saying less, which I don’t think it should be about. I have always been pretty honest with you guys always and you generally write good stuff but that wasn’t the truth. so I am a little bit narked with how it came across. 

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“I am p****d off with how it came across because it wasn’t in that context and it has been sensationalised to create some headlines. But hey, it’s your job, isn’t it? That’s on me to say, not you guys.”

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J
JPM 50 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

Unfortunately you don't know anything about French rugby, coaches and players but still making a lot of assumptions and judgements to push your prefabricated and simplistic point of view that Dupont is manipulating everything and is a bad guy. I am not a NZ rugby specialist and wouldn't dare make such theories about what is going on within the ABs team. Therefore my advice to you is to do like Dupont and stay humble when you don't know all the background of the issues !!!


Firstly if you knew a bit of Galthié, he is not the type of coach who is going to ask advice to his players and even his captain about team selection. He is as stubborn as you...


Second Ramos has played a lot of times as 10 with Toulouse and therefore Dupont (in particular when Ntamack is injured and unfortunately it has often happened recently and for long periods). He even played 10 during the last 3 games of the 2024 6N and this was far better performance than the first two games with Jalibert as 10.


Thirdly Jalibert lacked of respect to a La Rochelle player so your theory is once again out.


Fourth as I explained to you Galthié went for a 6-2 bench and Jalibert can only play 10 which doesn't fit that plan. Furthermore as 15 Buros is better under high balls than Ramos and everybody is prepared for a tactical kicking game.


So you can blame Galthié for a lot of things (as you clearly enjoy doing at the end of your post and you should be very happy as an AB fan) but certainly not Dupont. Sorry once more for your conspiracy theory.


And don't worry about potential disharmony in the French team; they are excellent mates around their captain. Jalibert is well known in the French rugby circles to have not a strong character (and we saw that in the WC quarter finals as he is very nervous in any decisive international game unlike Ntamack and Ramos as for his late penalty kick vs England this year).


In conclusion enjoy the game tmrw night. It is good that the ABs are very upset; we should watch a great game of rugby. I hope for running rugby and not too much kicking. With 5 key players injured on our side (Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Cros and Penaud) and 2 on your side I and various French fans see you as favourites. I obviously hope for another result.


If you are interested you can read a good article in the Guardian on the subject of France-NZ games.

92 Go to comments
K
KB 52 minutes ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Consistency hasnt been there they have many great players SA were also not unbeaten in the 2023 WC - NZ were in 2015 WC McCaw and Carter Nonu and Smith - SA did not have those Marque players in those postions in 2019 or 2023 - I wouldnt rank them ahead of the 20I5 ABs - They clocked up 60 points against France in the QF - Furthermore I do not believe for one moment SA won 2023 fairly no way - they were so favoured it became obvious that behind the scenes SA the nation bought the title - Their last 3 matches were won by a solitary point there were many contentious decisions that went their way that it became obvious it wasnt coincidence - Sport has been hijacked by a satanic cult just as is Politics

Some players coaches officials and sponsors are involved - they know who they are - its called Freemasonry - any sport that allows betting is corrupt - its not all about money either for these parasites its also about control - Lots of American NFL players have spoken openly about games being scripted - Football is also rigged Referees have been caught on film showing freemason hand signs - The 95 RWC final ranks as the highest and most obvious attempt at cheating There was no way SA were going to allow NZ to gate crash Nelson Mandelas reunification party - NZ were so good they had to posion almost the entire team to get a 3 point win - a Hollywood Movie ( theres your Red Flag ) was made about SAs triumph called Invictus


William Henley wrote a poem called Invictus


It starts


Out of the night that covers me BLACK ( All Blacks ) as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever GODS maybe for my unconquerable Soul ...( Olan says INVICTUS is an evil Malevolent entity who corrupted the Titans ... this is Mandelas double meaning speech ( hes a fraud ) - of thanks for helping overcome SA's adversary NZ - There is only ONE true God Yahuah - Only a false god would be complicit in Cheating Corruption and Harming others to win a RWC for a sick and sinful Nation ) the poem ends with


I am the CAPTAIN of my soul


SA will forever bear the stain of guilt and disgrace over their involvement in poisoning the ABs a day before the 95 RWC Final

11 Go to comments
C
CO 1 hour ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

92 Go to comments
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