Alex Sanderson faces 'selection headache' ahead of semi-final

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson admitted there were areas to improve on after their 30-26 Gallagher Premiership victory at Exeter, with one eye on their play-off semi-final at Leicester next weekend.

Sale led 20-5 at the break but were pushed all the way by the Devon side in the second half and eventually just managed to get over the winning line to secure their play-off spot.

“Things are coming together at the right time – some of it is intentional and some of it is luck,” said Sanderson.

“We have got some of our best players hitting the best form at the right time – and we will have Tom Roebuck and Tom Curry back next week – so two more to give us a selection headache.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Leicester

21 - 16

Full-time

Sale

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“I will expect the same from Leicester next week (as we saw today) though there will be some nuances in the tactics we will have to adapt to.

“But I think they have got one of the best defences in the league, a very strong set piece, a good kicking game with (Handre) Pollard, and (Leicester coach Michael) Cheika is canny and smart.

“But looking at us today, there are areas around the breakdown defensively that we need to be better at, more physical, more dominant.

“Leicester will use their crowd – as they do, to motivate their group – and there are lessons that we learnt when we lost there three weeks ago and we get the opportunity to put those right.”

Sanderson hailed his side’s physicality and also gave their opponents some praise, adding: “The game was brilliant today. It was physical, it was back and forth, there was some really good running in there and from the Exeter team as well.

“Because you have to go through those moments in the second half – when it was 23-19 to us and then 30-26 – it gets you ready and arms you for games like the semi-finals and final, which are all close.

“If you can keep your head in those situations, you are in such a better place off the back of that.”

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter was understandably disappointed with the result, saying: “It is one of those feelings where I am disappointed with the result, but look how close we have come.

“There was a real energy around Sandy Park today and it felt like there was something a little bit special going on.

“We got close to a very, very good team who came here pretty much full strength and there is not a lot more I could ask of the lads in terms of the emotion and energy they gave.”

Baxter also revealed that injured winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was close to returning to action and still had a chance of making England’s summer tour to Argentina.

He added: “He is not far off returning. He has not done any falling or contact yet, but that is his progression going forward and the England tour is not out of reach for him because he is starting to hit those fitness markers now.”