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Sale boss Alex Sanderson drafts in ex-Lions tour coach in the hope of finding a Premiership edge

(Photo by PA)

Sale boss Alex Sanderson has drafted in Craig White, the ex-British and Irish Lions conditioning coach, in a bid to eradicate the Manchester club’s “traditional inconsistency” which could undermine their Gallagher Premiership title challenge.

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White, who has also worked with Wales, Wasps and Leicester, was a member of the Lions backroom staff on two tours (2005 and 2009) and has also worked with football’s Bolton Wanderers. He was with Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley at Wasps when the club won the Heineken Cup, Challenge Cup and three Premiership titles. 

The arrival of White as a consultant at Sale is part of a wide-ranging shake-up of the off-the-field support for the players, which includes changing the weekly training schedule and boosting the conditioning and medical staff numbers at the club.

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    Sanderson, who is preparing to face Wasps on Saturday, took over as Sale boss from Steve Diamond in January and has spent his first two months examining where he believes changes need to be made to enable the squad to play to its potential. 

    “Craig has started working with us on our mentality and leadership skills and the mental side of rugby is one of the untapped areas,” explained Sanderson. “I have brought about that change and whether it is going to give us an edge we will have to wait and see.

    “Craig is a high performance consultant here to work on our mindset and psychological support. The players need people with experience who have probably walked a tough road themselves to be able to talk with honesty and integrity. We want to change some of the behavioural patterns to get a better performance at the weekend. He bookends the week with a Monday session and one right at the end with his expertise.

    “As a club, we want to be on more of a stable emotional keel and less of a roller coaster. For a few years, we have been conditioned to be on that roller coaster and the results show we are not there yet but we know where we are going. There is traditional inconsistency within this organisation that we are looking to eradicate.”

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    R
    RedWarrior 2 hours ago
    The reason given by Steve Borthwick for latest England setback

    So England are allowed to have a tsunami whinge fest about the ref but if an Irish fan points out that some decisions hurt Ireland also they are being petulant.

    Honestly some English supporters are all politeness until they lose then the claws and fangs come out.

    Ok here we go, not complaints just pointing out where England got away with roul play:

    1: M Smiths headbutt on James Lowe that started the fracas with Stewart. If the ref spots that in time then thats a second yellow if not a straight red for Smith. Probably worth another 14 points with England gassed so a 41-10 final scoreline?

    2: Itoje's several stamps on Hansens instep in a clear attempt to damage metatarsals. Straight red or if he is lucky, 10 in the bin.

    3. Currys block on Baird to create a gap that Smith used to break the line. Penalty and possession for Ireland deep in England 22 with score at 0:0.

    4: The correct decision for the Cunningham South dangerous tackle was a yellow. Lowe blew it by confronting him. The ref didn't give South or Lowe a yellow. The ref couldn't give Lowe a yellow anyway as the TMO would have informed him that m Smith alone started the previosu fracas and its not unreasonable for a player to react to being headbutted.


    One last thing missing from English analysis

    How is coming over to Dublin acting like you own the place, committing filthy cowardly off the ball cheap shots working out for you? I mean you clearly dont care that we think your team are a crowd of a$$holes but...... rugby wise, how is riling the Irish team to focus and get the best out of themselves against such unpleasant opposition working for you on the scoreboard?


    Food for thought old boy!!!!

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