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The 'bankrupt' Wray advice Eddie Jones passed on to Alex Sanderson
Rookie director of rugby Alex Sanderson has revealed how a Nigel Wray story passed onto him by England boss Eddie Jones is helping him to cope with the draining time demands of the position he took over at Sale last January. Having only previously worked as an assistant at Saracens, it was a big leap for the 42-year-old ex-England back-rower to step out of his comfort zone and become the main man at another club.
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A considerable challenge is his time management given that he is now the figurehead for the Manchester club and nine months into the job, Sanderson has now explained how a pep talk from England boss Jones has helped him maintain the high-intensity level demanded by the director of rugby role.
Both coaches have Saracens connections – and their time there did overlap. The 61-year-old Jones came to Saracens in 2006, initially as a technical advisor, not long after Sanderson had prematurely retired from playing through injury, and they went on to work there together on the coaching staff when the current Sale boss started back at the London club as an assistant.
This ensured that Sanderson had his ears pricked when the name of Wray, the long-serving Saracens owner who only sold his controlling interest in the club earlier this month, cropped up during a recent dinner conversation when Jones visited Manchester to strengthen the connection between England and Sale.
“He [Jones] took me out for a meal because he came up and we had a chat,” explained Sanderson. “He said, ‘What keeps you up at night?’ For me, it is the next day. I need to know that I am doing everything I can for that next day because I am still trying to find my feet and prove to myself that I can do this job.
Sale boss Alex Sanderson has been explaining the differences he has noticed in Tom Curry since the 23-year-old came back from the Lions series versus the Springboks#Lions #Sharks #GallagherPrem #LEIvSAL
https://t.co/Sz5H5Gx1nR— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 21, 2021
“And I said, ‘What about you? You have been doing it for 30 years, what keeps you driven, what keeps you going to the intensity that you do it, what keeps you up at night?’ He quoted Nigel Wray of all people, which is quite apt because he got on with Nigel and Nigel is worth however much he is worth and he could have retired 30 years ago, couldn’t he? He doesn’t because he is still super-driven.
“What drives him [Wray]? He wakes up every day and convinces himself that he is bankrupt and that is a good way to look at it because every day you have to go out and make a fortune and as a coach, it’s probably the same thing.
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“For me last week is done now. Harlequins is done. You are only as good as your last game but as a coach your sessions, your presentations, how you interact, was I as good today as I was last week prepping for Quins… I question myself on that and the lads [the Sale assistant coaches] have a similar type of intensity. You have to come and apply yourself as well as you did the day before.”
Sanderson also gave his view on whether Diamond, who was linked at the start of the week to struggling Bath, has the appetite to get back working the game anytime soon#Sharks #Bath #GallagherPrem
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 19, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Excellent game management in the last 15 or so minutes to close it out. Aussie got a bit panicky.
1 Go to commentsWhile all this is going on… I’ve been thinking more about the NFL draft system and how to make the commercial elements of the game more sustainable for SA teams who precariously live on the fringe of these developments. SA teams play in Europe now, and are welcome, because there’s a novelty to it. SA certainly doesn’t bring the bucks (like a Japan would to SR) but they bring eyes to it. But if they don’t perform (because they don’t have the money like the big clubs) - it’s easy come easy go… I think there is an element of strategic drafting going on in SA. Where the best players (assets) are sort of distributed amongst the major teams. It’s why we’re seeing Moodie at the Bulls for example and not at his homegrown Western Province. 20-30 years ago, it was all about playing for your province of birth. That has clearly changed in the modern era. Maybe Moodie couldn’t stay in the cape because at the time the Stormers were broke? Or had too many good players to fit him in? Kistchoff’s sabbatical to Ireland and back had financial benefits. Now they can afford him again (I would guess). What I am getting at is - I think SA Rugby needs to have a very strong strategy around how teams equitably share good youth players out of the youth structures. That is SA’s strong point - a good supply of good players out of our schools and varsities. It doesn’t need to be the spectacle we see out of the states, but a system where SA teams and SA rugby decide on where to draft youth, how to fund this and how to make it that it were possible for a team like the Cheetahs (for example) to end up with a team of young stars and win! This is the investment and thinking that needs to be happening at grassroots to sustain the monster meanwhile being created at the top.
45 Go to commentsGreat win - but very poor officiating yet again. Even the Aussie commentators slammed the YC decisions.
1 Go to commentsThe game where it felt like RSA was going to lose the most was the England game in my view. Heart in throat after the Farrell drop-goal…Amazing that the boks overcame 3 times in a row…not likely to be repeated ever in my view Also the boys looked emotionally spent in the England game in the 1st half That said, why was World Rugby and Beaumont allowed to stack the pools in England’s favour? Toughest opponents on that side of the draw were Fiji, Argentina (implode central) and Auckland Girls 2nd team
48 Go to commentsOnline trolls - the only ppl who the Crusaders can beat
2 Go to commentsDefinitely some greater nous by the Walleroos and it will take a bit of time for Jo Yapp to have a lasting affect. Canada are a forward dominated physical team and only the top 3 teams can match them, though not so sure about BF’s forwards. Many of Canada’s forwards earn their living in the English PWR, the breeding ground for the Red Roses amazing strength in depth. The next PAC4 matches will be interesting.
1 Go to commentsIs the Club World Cup and the World League, in combination, going to make or break world Rugby? I personally think it’s too much. Established tournaments and competitions’s significance is going to be drowned out by “the new shiney Mall built just down the street”.
45 Go to commentsLoved Carr‘s post match interview. “No, I don’t think so Jean. But thank you.” Good kid. Louw a certain feature for the Boks this year.
1 Go to comments“Where is the challenge to Leinster, Toulouse and La Rochelle likely to come from in future?” Racing 92 ? This has not been a good season for them this year, but they have a very strong squad……players like Woki, Nyakane, Kolisi, Le Roux, Lauret(these two older now), Le Garrec, Fickou, Tuisova, Arundell. With the addition next year of Owen Farrell, that is some firepower to mount a serious challenge ? And with Stuart Lancaster having a year under his belt, things should go better. Northampton will be a year wiser, more streetwise too. And I would expect one or two of the South African sides to mount a more serious challenge, but that would depend on keeping more players at home
45 Go to commentsWow, have to go but can’t leave without saying these thoughts. And carlos might jump in here, but going through the repercussions I had the thought that sole nation representatives would see this tournament as a huge boon. The prestige alone by provide a huge incentive for nations like Argentina to place a fully international club side into one of these tournaments (namely Super Rugby). I don’t know about the money side but if a team like the Jaguares was on the fence about returning I could see this entry as deciding the deal (at least for make up of that side with its eligibility criteria etc). Same goes for Fiji, and the Drua, if there can be found money to invest in bringing more internationals into the side. It’s great work from those involved in European rugby to sacrifice their finals, or more accurately, to open there finals upto 8 other world teams. It creates a great niche and can be used by other parties to add further improvements to the game. Huge change from the way things in the past have stalled. I did not even know that about the French game. Can we not then, for all the posters out there that don’t want to follow NZ and make the game more aerobic, now make a clear decision around with more injuries occur the more tired an athlete is? If France doesn’t have less injuries, then that puts paid to that complaint, and we just need to find out if it is actually more dangerous having ‘bigger’ athletes or not. How long have they had this rule?
45 Go to commentsHaha he does the exact opposite of what you’d expect any receiver to do, Brilliant!
2 Go to commentswell the favourites dont always win and let scott robertson chose his number 8
4 Go to commentsthats great for cam miller and the highlanders the crusaders have got problems within there systems that were proberly covered up astheywere winning when scott robertson was in charge
2 Go to commentsThe last time Plumtree coached the sharks they sucked the same when with the hurricanes now back with the shark Springboro. They still have no game plan
1 Go to commentsan impressive nail biting win for the Blues...but for mine the losing of the game sits with Isaia Walker-Leawere who fumbled balls from kick offs, broken play and then stripped of the ball by Sam Nock in the final minute…
4 Go to commentsAll of the Moderna law changes have been to slow the game down, playing into the hands of SA and the north. Incentivising boring, negative rugby. Brilliant changes. Speed up the game.
24 Go to commentsImagine you kick to the lineout, they give away a free kick, you have a great chance at a scrum, sorry sir you have to tap and go. Ridiculous
24 Go to commentsWhile I believe that the Crusaders do not deserve a spot in the playoffs, every single team would be worried to play them no matter where on the table they are. For example, they have the potential to knock out the Blues at Eden Park. They are the Springboks in Super Rugby in that they know exactly how to play knockout footy and have the pedigree and experience to do it. Something is just not quite right with that team this year. Fakatava is prone to to the odd brain explosion and can kick away good ball in bad positions. His work around the ruck and breakdown is a standout. Is he better than Finlay Christie? I’m not sure. TJ Perenara and Cortez Ratima should get two of the spots in the ABs squad. Aumua has so much potential but the midfield is quite well stocked with Jordie, ALB, Tupaea, and Ioane as well as Billy Proctor who is in top form. Aumua would be battling a spot with Tupaea and Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy do some Bok fans get so defensive when people have opinions on how the game should be played? Is it really necessary to take it as a personal attack on SA every time?
24 Go to commentsMost crazy rule is when attacking player has to release but defender does not. Stop the defender doing that by saying hands off. That way fender would not kill the ball. Madness and crazy
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