'There's an argument I might not be talented enough in this role'

Alex Sanderson hasn’t shied away from the criticism that Sale have not delivered on their full potential this season, finding themselves shut out from making the Gallagher Premiership playoffs after contesting the semi-finals in the 2020/21 season. The Sharks finished in third place last term, clocking up 16 wins in a 22-game regular season to earn them 74 points.

With just one regular-season game remaining in 2021/22, at home to Bristol on Saturday, Sale have registered eleven wins in 23 games for a total of 65 points that has them placed sixth and out of contention with the fourth place Northampton and Gloucester in fifth looking to join Leicester, Saracens and Harlequins in the semi-finals.

Former Saracens assistant Sanderson took charge at Sale in January 2021, carrying on that good start to the campaign they made under the long-serving, but his first full season as a director of rugby has given him plenty of food for thought with their season set to finish this weekend in Manchester.

“I’m well aware that it takes you a little bit of time to properly reflect on the season,” he admitted to RugbyPass in the run-up to the season-closing visit from Bristol. “I am already feeling you swing between what you could have been and there were opportunities missed. Like the covid game against Newcastle at Christmas.

“Not to say we would have that game but I would have backed us to win it and then we are in a different position for semis, so these are real sliding doors opportunities and the draws that we had (three) and some of the poor losses which I know we are better than.

“They are always ticking away in the back of your mind but you carry those for seasons because you learn lessons from them. You have got to bring it back to your intent and your effort and I don’t think none of us could have worked harder or been purer with our intent. As long as you look back on those things that require no talent because there is an argument that I might not be talented enough in this role, but it won’t be through a lack of effort in trying to do it in the right way.

“So as long as you look back on those things that you value yourself in terms of your principles then you will have a pretty measured reflection and I’m already starting to think for many reasons it has been a successful season but not a success. There are many aspects of it that I am proud of that have been successful but it has not been a success in the eyes of many of us who had high hopes for the club this season.”

Asked how he will recharge the batteries with the season at Sale set to end, Sanderson added: “I have got the PRL awards dinner next Tuesday, so I have got that to look forward to. What are we doing? I am taking my mum and dad to Anglesey to remember the old days, they used to go on holiday there.

“So I am going to spend one of my holidays there and that is important and on the other side of that, I am taking my kid fossilising down the Jurassic Coast so humble holidays, Dorset and Anglesea. Nothing too fancy.”