'All of them are social animals, they are great craic'
So tickled was Sale boss Alex Sanderson with being confused with big brother Pat the other day that he quickly whipped out his phone to take a snap of the offending magazine description and fire off a WhatsApp to his working-in-the-City sibling.
With the dawn of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season on the horizon, a line in a printed preview on the Sharks’ new campaign declared ‘in come Pat Sanderson’s new guard’, hence the question from RugbyPass to the director of rugby over whether the soon-to-be 43-year-old coach is often mistaken for his brother who turns 45 on September 6.
“Not much. I once got mistaken as a Pat Sanderson lookalike when I was out with him in Worcester, believe it or not, which he keeps reminding me of. Nowadays not so much,” he quipped before learning about the magazine preview error. “I’ll tell him that. Can I take a picture?”
Sanderson was the epitome of good health and new-campaign optimism last week while wolfing down a sarnie just minutes before gambolling out the door at Twickenham for the 220-mile schlep back to Manchester following his morning doing the rounds at the official Premiership Rugby launch of a season that starts for Sale with this Friday’s home joust versus Northampton.
The still-rookie boss can’t wait. It was January 2021 when he was parachuted in mid-season after Steve Diamond chucked it in for some family time. That toe-in-the-water few months in charge culminated in a league semi-final appearance but the subsequent first full season for Sanderson at the helm was dented by inconsistency and a sixth-place finish (W12 D3 L9) was the frustrating outcome.
Plans to do much, much better have now been actioned and he is especially hopeful that the gambit of basing the overhauled Sale squad in Galway for a week last month has delivered the desired adrenaline shot that will get them firing on a more consistent basis. “I was so impressed with the place,” enthused Sanderson about the busman’s holiday in the west of Ireland.
“I’d been there for a game before but never for a week, never to see how positive everyone is. It’s like they don’t care if it is raining or whatever. They are getting in the sea and it is minus three. Like, it is such a positive place. It was f*** it, we are going to be happy regardless. Really good vibes.”
The off-season upheaval in the Sale roster has been significant under Sanderson. The Diamond era became synonymous with multiple meaty recruits from South Africa, giving the team quite a southern hemisphere influence but that has been diluted.
Out the door have gone Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager, JP du Preez and Rohan Janse van Rensburg, replaced by an influx of indigenous players, the likes of the box office ‘locals’ George Ford and Jonny Hill and a supporting cast featuring London duo Tom O’Flaherty and Joe Simpson. Kiwi Jason Woodward, who toured South Africa in 2018 with Eddie Jones’ England is also a newbie.
Sanderson likes the altered feel of the place, believing it now adds greater credence to his belief that Sale are a beacon for the north of England and everything that is great about the region. “You are right, four big South Africans going away for their reasons, for the right reasons,” he said, embracing the opportunity to outline how the lie of the land at Carrington has changed over the summer months.
“Look, however professional, however committed they are, there has surely got to be something in the sub-conscious, they have got one eye over the shoulder about going home towards the back-end and that makes them a bit more difficult to manage,” he began regarding the SA exodus that precipitated his squad’s change in dynamic.
“You have certainly got three players who have come in and are adding energy, a belief, an excitement, a buzz. One of them, Tom O’Flaherty, has proven to be brilliant on the field and is perhaps one of the most underrated wingers in the Premiership, he is a brilliant player.
“All of them are social animals. It’s not that they hope they have fitted in, they are adding to the environment. They are great craic and getting away gave them that gateway, that opportunity to open up. That is what it is about, getting away. But I was surprised with how well they were received.
“How intent they were in entrenching themselves in the squad, getting up and singing and having the craic and we actually haven’t seen the best of them on the field yet – I’m talking about Jonny and George.
“We have got one of the best fly-halves in his prime in George and Jonny has shown he is probably reaching his peak as well, so we will lose nothing in terms of performance. We needed a bit of experience with Joe and Jason and they give us that. We are really happy with them two as well and they are contributing a lot.
“We have still got a relatively large contingent of South African players but it is not something we have to worry about now in terms of English-qualified players, averaging 15 (in a matchday squad). We have lent into the roots and fabric of this club which is the north.
“That is why it is a big pull for Jonny, he is a Shropshire lad. It’s a massive pull for George. It means I can talk with authenticity about some of my own drivers, about some of my own motivational drivers and know that it connects with the lads. We are largely a northern English club with a hint of African whereas before it was probably half and half. Now it looks like 80/20, innit.”
Sanderson is conscious as well that the Premiership is a ruthless business. It was September 2019 when the league’s organisers were last able to stage a proper new-season launch at England Rugby HQ and the then and now turnover has been heavy.
Just four of the dozen bosses from three years ago – Saracens’ Mark McCall, London Irish’s Declan Kidney, Exeter’s Rob Baxter and Bristol’s Pat Lam – turned up last Thursday still in the same job, meaning eight coaches have been moved on (nine when you include Newcastle, who were in the Championship in 2019/20).
Unquestionably, results equal job security in the Premiership but being a local means Sanderson has an added incentive to thrive at Sale and not become part of the coaching churn across the league. “I love where I’m from, my family are really happy, it creates that want and desire to do a good job for them as well.
“There is more of a care for a set of lads and how hard they have worked and what it means to them so for them to have a season that is worthy of the effort they have put in, that truly overrides my desire to have a comfortable existence. I just want them to not let another season slip by in a place where we have got that many good people.
“We have never been more aligned since I have been here,” he added about his management ticket. “The coaching team is coaching better than it ever has. They were a little bit unsettled as a group and we are assured of our roles within it even though there is a lot of dovetailing going on.
“I have learned and will continue to learn but I have learned that in this role you have to delegate by default but maybe just hold ten per cent back so you make a decent decision at the time it is needed.”
Comments on RugbyPass
There’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to comments