Sanderson responds to Martin links as Sale try to earn back reputation

Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson has admitted the team’s “horrendous” 65-14 mauling by Saracens has damaged their reputation as one of the toughest teams in the Gallagher PREM.

Having worked so hard to change perceptions about the kind of challenge Sale can mount, the manner of the loss has forced the club to face the fact that they fell well short of the standards they have set. Sanderson, who is preparing for a daunting trip to Leicester on Saturday, is without six players who are involved with the England training camp but has taken the rest of the squad through the debris of the second half at Saracens.

He said: “Pain isn’t a decent estimation and it’s a scar that stings. You remember those games for life and it marks you and no one is running away from the fact that we could have prepped them better as coaches and the players take accountability for the fact that elements of composure could have put it right. We lost the physical and aerial battle and when there is a litany of areas that need to be fixed it comes down to mentality.

“No one is kicking stones but they wanted an honest review and we cut training short today because the intensity was right up there but it can only ever be truly put right on Saturday. We need to earn back some of the reputation we probably lost around defence and the competitive team we have traditionally been. We are driven and focussed on that.

“It was a horrendous day in the office for us but you see the emergence of a player like Noah Caluori (who scored five tries) who got to heights on a rugby field I have never seen before.”

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Gallagher Premiership

Leicester

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Sale

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Ironically, the one member of the Sale camp who has not be adversely affected by the 53 missed tackles against Saracens is defence coach Byron McGuigan, who is about to be confirmed in a part-time role with England for the Autumn Nations Series following his positive impact on the unbeaten summer tour to Argentina and the USA.

Flanker Tom Curry is with England and Sanderson expects him to feature in the autumn Tests despite not having played since the operation on his wrist following the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.

Sanderson is understood to be interested in tempting England lock George Martin, currently injured, away from Leicester and admitted: “George Martin would be a good addition to any squad and he is some player.”