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'They probably have the best club rugby back line in the world at the moment' - Alex Sanderson talks up Bristol's back line

By PA
Alex Sanderson (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty

Alex Sanderson takes his new Sale side to Ashton Gate on Friday warning that Bristol have the best back line in world club rugby.

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Bristol top the Gallagher Premiership after six straight wins and the Bears scored seven tries last week to demolish neighbours Bath 48-3.
Sale director of rugby Sanderson said: “Bristol are an amazingly dangerous team if you give them time and space.

“They probably have the best club rugby back line in the world at the moment and they have the ability to throw a lightning bolt at you at any time.

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Alex Sanderson talks to RugbyPass:

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Alex Sanderson talks to RugbyPass:

“We have to be mentally prepared for all outcomes and be able to overcome them.

“We’re going up against the top of the tree on Friday, a team brimming with confidence and I have no doubt Pat (Lam, Bears director of rugby) will have a few tricks up his sleeve.

“We are going down there with one mindset, and that’s to push Bristol for 80 minutes and see where we are after that.”

Asked whether the period of Six Nations games offered Sale the chance to win matches, Sanderson said: “We aren’t targeting any specific games or any period of time.

“We want to define ourselves and understand our trademarks and our identities, that’s the most important thing at the moment.

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“Why are we here and how are we going about it?”

Sanderson won his first game in charge against Leicester last weekend as the Sharks recovered from an 8-0 deficit to triumph 25-15 at Welford Road.

The victory took Sale into third place in the Premiership, six points adrift of Bristol.

Lam said: “You’ve got World Cup winners in there, some world-class international players – and obviously, Alex coming in is a massive boost for them.

“I’ve known Alex from my playing days, he had a tremendously successful time at Saracens and was a big influence there, and there’s no doubt he’ll take Sale to another level as well.

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“It’s going to be tough, and the beauty about the Premiership is that every game is tough.

“But every game is different as well, there are different threats and so many world-class players in different teams, that’s why I love it and enjoy coaching in it.”

Sale Sharks Starting XV: 15. Luke James, 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Sam James, 12. Sam Hill, 11. Marland Yarde, 10. Aj MacGinty, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Curtis Langdon, 3. Will-Griff John, 4. Josh Beaumont, 5. Cobus Wiese, 6. Jono Ross (Capt), 7. Cameron Neild, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.

Replacements: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. James Philiips, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Will Cliff, 22. Robert du Preez, 23. Simon Hammersley

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TI 1 hour ago
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Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

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