Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

Video Spacer

Alex Sanderson talks to RugbyPass:

Video Spacer

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

“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.

ADVERTISEMENT

“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

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
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
TRENDING
TRENDING Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss
Search