1
'Sod it': Sale call out Premiership awards, tickets advert snubs
By Liam Heagney
Alex Sanderson has revealed the reaction at Sale after none of their players were included in last week’s Gallagher Premiership team of the year or won an individual award. The director of rugby also called out a tournament tickets advert that failed to include a picture of any Sharks player.
Sanderson’s Sale are due to Bath this Saturday after reaching their third semi-final in four seasons with an exceptional May 18 win away to defending champions Saracens.
That qualification was followed by the Manchester club’s boss attending the league’s end-of-season awards, where Sale didn’t win a thing, a wound that had salt rubbed into it when they noticed a promotion for tickets that failed to acknowledge their presence in the play-offs.
Asked for his reaction about the likes of the on-song George Ford not being selected on the team of the year, Sanderson said: “I reported on Friday morning. I went to the Prem awards on Wednesday, and I said, ‘Lads, not a lot to report from the Prem awards, we didn’t win a thing’ to a massive uproar and cheer from the lads.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise we are actually leaning in and revelling in the fact that no one really rates us. Not a bad place to be. But I think he [Ford] should be included.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, he has been brilliant for us and, as I said in the past, how he has shifted the attacking focus mentality of the international side [England], I believe he was a big influence with that, and he still seems to go unrecognised for a lot of his efforts. Not in-house he doesn’t, just externally.”
Switching to the tickets advert that piqued his interest, Sanderson explained: “There is an advert out there for ticket sales and there is not even a Sale player on the advert. It just shows you. Sod it. It’s great, we’d rather be in this position and use that as ammunition.”
Sale will very much be representing northern rugby when they contest the play-offs, and Sanderson is delighted they have bucked the odds that suggested they wouldn’t be involved as they were way down the table when the league resumed after the Guinness Six Nations.
“We are a very proud northern club with some South African steel,” he said. “We have shown unbelievable resilience over the last five weeks whenever the game has been a knockout game and apart from the couple of blowouts when teams have played second teams, we have put some of our most consistent attacking rugby out there.
“I think we have scored the most in terms of points if not bonus points, which has seen a shift in our game. So, I’m massively proud to be a part of this group for our resilience, for our physicality, for how we have been growing, adding to our game, particularly in this business end post the Six Nations.
“We are just not as fashionable as your Bath, Sarries, not as flashy Quins, not as bold as Bristol. But we are very proud, we are enjoying ourselves and we are putting a good product out there as well. You can be the judge of that. But if we keep winning and keep performing, we will turn the tide of popularity, I’m sure.”
Trending on RugbyPass
2
South Africa vs England player ratings | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
3
Ireland player ratings vs Argentina | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
4
Jake White: As England coach, I’d have been livid
5
Latest Comments
We beat Wales. Oh wow.
Go to commentsAs has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.
Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.
That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.
You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).
Go to comments