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'I've got a bottle of wine in the car and I'm off to Manu's house'
Alex Sanderson was set for a farewell glass of wine on Wednesday night with Manu Tuilagi after it was confirmed the previous evening that the midfield powerhouse was quitting the Gallagher Premiership club for a two-year deal with Bayonne in France.
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It was last February when the 32-year-old first told the director of rugby that he thought the time was ripe for him to move in from Manchester, his home since his 2020 switch from Leicester.
However, as late as Saturday night in the wake of Tuilagi making his final Test appearance for England, Sanderson was in contact with the centre wishing that he could make something work so that he didn’t have to leave at the end of the 2023/24 season.
RugbyPass had reported on Saturday morning that Tuilagi would be staying in France after the Guinness Six Nations finale fixture versus France to visit Bayonne on Monday.
He toured the facilities and passed his medical, and a two-year contract was then inked before the transfer was publicly confirmed by Sale on Tuesday evening.
Sanderson held his weekly media briefing on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s resumption of the Gallagher Premiership after its eight-week break and he explained his emotions around the departure of Tuilagi, with whom he started to work in January 2021 after he succeeded Steve Diamond at the helm.
“I’m still reacting. As I said in my statement, it’s still a wrench in my heart even though together we thought it was the right decision for the club and his family by way of his earnings and the stage in his career.
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“I have got a bottle of wine in the car and I’m off to his house after this to level because it [the news] has come out, just to have a chat with him because that is how it started. Well, it started on a hill but we confirmed an extra two years over a glass or two. So fitting, I guess.
“Massive void to fill in terms of the emotional consistency he provides by way of how composed he is and the energy that he gives around the place. That is I would say the biggest challenge aside from his ball carrying and ability to bang.”
Sanderson admitted Sale weren’t close to enticing Tuilagi to stay on a fifth season. “What we could have offered him isn’t what he is worth, so it was just a discussion over a period of conversations and it should be, it’s never a shock.
“It should always be like, ‘What is right for the club, what’s right for you, what’s right for the pathway we have got going on by way of succession’ and he has been part of that process all the way through. What a legend he is. That is why I’m torn.
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“Often when it comes down to numbers, which it has, you have to be able to shelve some of your principles for the greater good of the team. If it starts to get easy for me I have probably lost a little bit of my soul. I guess I’ll get a better handle on it but I don’t want it to get any easier.”
Quizzed as to when Tuilagi first told him he would be leaving, Sanderson admitted: “February. Because the move pretty much puts an end to his international career if he wanted to go for big money, clearly no other Premiership club has the money. Like, we don’t have the money. He just said to me, ‘I think it’s time Al’.
“But the certainty that he had got contract was last night [Tuesday]. Like, I’m still chatting to him on Saturday night saying, ‘I wish there was a way’. We’d a few drinks, ‘I wish there was a way’. It happened publicly yesterday so that is why I want to go and get some closure tonight with him.”
Was there a favourite memory in all his time working with Tuilagi? “That first walk I reckon. Shutlingsloe is kind of the highest point in and around Manchester and it was when he was sorting his achilles out.
“It was the first time I got to learn what he was around and where he was in terms of his family structure, what he wanted for his kids – he has got three now. That is when we struck a chord and I understood how I wanted to communicate with him. I’m hoping to make some better memories with him in the next three months.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
5 Go to comments