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'Chucking a few grenades': Harlequins hit back after Sanderson labels them 'ungracious'
Harlequins assistant Adam Jones has responded to an explosive claim by Sale boss Alex Sanderson that they were ungracious winners when they defeated the Sharks in London 15 weeks ago. The ex-Saracens assistant was left annoyed in the aftermath of the 24-12 Gallagher Premiership loss and he made a point of highlighting his dissatisfaction at his weekly media session ahead of this Friday’s rematch in Manchester.
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“I don’t want to make it personal,” said Sanderson ahead of a game that will see the club that is third on the Premiership table ahead of the semi-finals play host to the fourth-placed side. “Maybe it’s because I have been a London rival for so many years and have been at the wrong end of a couple of results, they are a side that lets you know it when they do win. They are not very gracious in victory. It felt like that down there and it’s always nice to inject a bit of animosity in that North vs South divide.”
Asked by RugbyPass had Harlequins picked up on Sanderson’s incendiary comments, assistant Jones said: “We did. I think he was also implying what he had been like with Saracens. We celebrate when Quins beat Sarries because not many teams beat them and it’s a London derby. Look, there was a big rivalry between us. He was Saracens through and through as well but he’s a good bloke, Al. I’m sure he was just chucking a few grenades out there to see what comes back.
“Look, we beat them and sort of beat them fair and square (in February). I can’t remember the celebrations being too over the top because there was plenty of time left in the season. You want to celebrate beating teams and Sale is a big side and you want to beat them. As I said, he [Sanderson] is a good fella so I’m sure he is just trying to wind a few people up.”
The curiosity about Sanderson’s unflattering description of Harlequins is that Friday night’s encounter didn’t need any additional hype. It was always going to be a tasty affair between the two title-challenging teams who only last September faced off in the 2019/20 Premiership Cup final, a decider won by the Sharks whose social media team were criticised in the aftermath for posting a tweet about Mike Brown that he didn’t like.
'It’s always nice to inject a bit of animosity"#SALvHARhttps://t.co/pjdPXCDe79
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 2, 2021
“It’s like going to Pretoria to play the Springboks,” quipped Jones, the Harlequins scrum coach. “There is a lot of South African influence there. Then you have Tom Curry, Ben Curry, these guys, massive players for them. We know what it’s going to bring. Maybe it is something he [Sanderson] is using to wind his team up.
“That was a final (last September), this one we’re both through to the semi-finals so we’re both having a pat on the back. It’s a different season. Manu (Tuilagi) is back for them which is massive, a big fillip for them going towards the end of the season.
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“But there is no hangover for us from the Prem Cup game, there is no hangover thinking just because we beat them at home (15 weeks ago) we can go up there and walk past them. We know what they are going to bring. When you play the All Blacks you know what they will bring, you play South Africa you know what they are going to bring, same if you play France. It’s just how to deal with it.”
Asked for his own impression on how Sanderson has coped with becoming a new Premiership director of rugby in January following a long apprenticeship as an assistant coach, Jones added: “He has been class. He inherited a good side and you can see he has brought that kind of Saracens mindset in defence, how they defend. They kick the ball a lot. They’re a good side. He is a fantastic coach, he did a great job at Saracens.
“I’m sure he could have picked any club he wanted but he is a northern guy so it’s probably nice for him to be home. I wish him well. He has done a great job up there. He’s a good fella and a good laugh, and you see it when he does his post-match. He doesn’t mind taking the mick or having the craic with someone. He has done well up there. Good on him, but we want to go up there Friday night and beat them and get a few points on them.”
SALE: 15. Simon Hammersley; 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Sam James, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Marland Yarde; 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Josh Beaumont (capt), 5. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Cameron Neild, 7. Ben Curry, 8. Daniel du Preez. Reps: 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. Will-Griff John, 19. Jean-Pierre du Preez, 20. Jono Ross, 21. Will Cliff, 22. Robert du Preez, 23. Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
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HARLEQUINS: 15. Tyrone Green; 14. Aaron Morris, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Oscar Beard; 10. James lang, 9. Martin Landajo; 1. Santiago Garcia Botta, 2. Joe Gray, 3. Will Collier, 4. Dino Lamb, 5. Stephan Lewies, 6. Archie White, 7. Luke Wallace, 8. Tom Lawday. Reps: 16. Elia Elia, 17. Fin Baxter, 18. Simon Kerrod, 19. Tevita Cavubati, 20. Hugh Tizard, 21. Scott Steele, 22. Will Edwards, 23. Louis Lynagh.
Nice humility ??
Well done to your players for the win, well deserved. Luckily you’re not a representation of how they are.— Mike Brown (@mikebrown_15) September 24, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments