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Sanderson: 'I am sure the players will reference it in smaller groups'
By Chris Jones
Alex Sanderson, the Sale director of rugby, will send his men out against Exeter Chiefs at the AJ Bell Stadium on a revenge mission but insists another failure will not end their hopes of making the Gallagher Premiership playoffs.
Sale, last season’s beaten finalists, are currently eighth after losing to Bath 42-24 last weekend and now face an Exeter team that thrashed them 43-0 earlier this season at Sandy Park and who hold fourth place and stand eight points ahead of Sanderson’s team. “It is operation ‘get your own back’ after what happened at Sandy Park.” said Sanderson.
“I am sure the players will reference it in smaller groups but there are bigger things at stake in what we want to get out of the season and that is the overriding motivation. You can then lead into the dented pride and the opportunity to put records straight.”
So will defeat end Sale’s playoff hopes? “No, because Simon Orange (owner) is a master of numbers and reckons (another) 20-22 points is good enough to get us in,” said Sanderson. “We hope it doesn’t come down to that. My initial thought (after the Six Nations break) was that we have to win them all but because everyone is playing each other then four out of six wins with a bonus point picked up here and there should get you in there. That being said, we have to find form quick and there is an urgency.
“Exeter are proving to be a really good team with a lot character with young lads who are proving their worth. We are going in eyes wide open and have to be on a mettle and we need an 80-minute performance which we didn’t have against Bath. The lads called that out and we need a bench to finish the game off.”
Ben Curry has recovered from the arm injury he suffered trying to tackle Manu Tuilagi in England training and his leadership will be needed against Exeter.
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Latest Comments
Don't think you've watched enough. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
Go to commentsHopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
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