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'I'd love Manu to get almighty shot off on Radradra at some point'

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Sale boss Alex Sanderson is salivating over the prospect of two of the world’s best midfielders – Manu Tuilagi and Semi Radradra of Bristol – going at it over the next two weekends in the Heineken Champions Cup. Tuilagi returned to club action last weekend following his Guinness Six Nations injury setback and his comeback was best remembered for the scintillating tackle he put in on Saracens’ Ben Earl. 

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It was an impact that has left Sanderson eager to see more with inside centre Tuilagi going up against outside centre Radradra this Saturday in the midfield at the AJ Bell Stadium and the following Friday in the return leg at Ashton Gate. 

“That cliche, unstoppable force meets immovable object, springs to mind,” said Sanderson when quizzed by RugbyPass on his thoughts about Tuilagi encountering Radradra with a European quarter-final place at stake for their respective clubs. 

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“It will be brilliant. That is why these games are great because you have to play all your best players. Radradra is superb. I still think there is more in him, I don’t think we have seen the best of him since he has come back from injury. He was almost unstoppable pre that and these are the games that these big players get up for. 

“That’s him and we know what he is about, his tackle-breaking and his offloading abilities. In attack, he is very dangerous wheeras I feel Manu ir probably good on both sides (of the ball). He is great at getting over the gain line but he is horrible to play against. 

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“You don’t even see him coming sometimes. Ben Earl didn’t see him coming. The way he got up from that ruck and ran back around andf filled in and came straight off the line and rolled into that defensive line, his timing and his ability to see a play as it happens is nothing short of brilliant. So yes, I would love Manu to get an almighty shot off on Radradra at some point. That is the best way you stop offloads and get him going backwards. Let’s all cross our fingers for that occurring some Saturday.”

Last Friday’s second-half run off the Sale bench against Saracens was the first outing for Tuilagi in seven weeks as he was unable to take his place in the England lineup after getting selected to start against Wales in the February 26 Guinness Six Nations clash. 

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A hamstring tweak was the reason for the cry-off and at the time Sanderson suggested there would likely be a meeting between Sale and the England medics after the championship to try and best plot an injury-free future for the Tuilagi. 

That meeting hasn’t happened but England boss Eddie Jones texted Sanderson on Tuesday to ascertain an update on the midfielder. The hope is he will come through the upcoming European games unscathed and reach the Premiership bye week Sale have later this month still going strong following his latest recovery.

“We are still figuring out how best we can manage,” admitted the Sale boss. “If we get him through these next few weeks then we will probably have a pretty good blueprint for what his week looks like. It probably pays just to see how it goes the next few weeks but we are confident we can manage him through. 

“We are going to be quite stringent in terms of game time this week as well for him, not just see how it goes. Just have a real plan around that. But Eddie texted me Tuesday morning and there is still regular interaction there. It is very easy to pick up the phone and have that conversation. It doesn’t have to be anything formal, it’s when the opportunity arises.”

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Asked how Tuilagi has been looking on his latest Sale comeback, Sanderson added: “He seems more mobile than he was. He has always had that in him, he has always had that ability to bang in him but he shuddered. 

“Ben Earl was in one spot and then half a second later he was four metres somewhere else. It was like Manu teleported him. Great to watch. We watched it again on Monday because that part of our game we are very happy with. He just seems really bouncy, agile, better for it after losing the weight. That is part of his management to keep him on the field.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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