The latest 'mind-stretching' Sale exercise to improve their play
Alex Sanderson has revealed that one of the world’s leading neuropsychologists visited the Sale squad at their Carrington training ground on Monday in an effort to help them produce a better performance when they take on Bristol on Friday in the second leg of their round of 16 Heineken Champions Cup tie.
Ever since Sanderson was appointed as the successor to director of rugby Steve Diamond in January 2021, Sale have tried an array of outside-the-box off-field gambits in the hope of securing their players those vital top few inches to make a difference on the pitch. Just last September he spoke about their ambition to develop a mind gym.
Now, fresh from what was roundly criticised as the worst of the eight first-leg Champions Cup ties last weekend, Sale are now striving to produce a way better display in the hope of overturning the slender one-point deficit they face at Ashton Gate following their 10-9 defeat at the AJ Bell last Saturday in a disappointingly dull encounter that was broadcast on free-to-air TV as well as BT Sport.
Monday was review day at the Sale training ground and despite the shortened turnaround to Friday’s away game, Sanderson admitted that his squad took a left-field deep dive into why it didn’t click for them in their first meeting against Bristol.
Asked for his reflections on a match that was best forgotten 15 months into his reign as the Sale boss, Sanderson said: “Loads as you can imagine, racking my brain because we had a good training week. Herein lies your priorities as a coach and as a group on a short turnaround after a poor performance where we rued some of the opportunities we had, if you delve too deep you take too long to get over it and get on with it.
“So we haven’t delved too deep this week although talk about deep, we did have one of the world’s leading neuropsychologists come in and do a little interactive presentation for us on Monday and highlighted our awareness of the effects of oxytocin and dopamine on your effort and your energy respectively which you can create, nor forcibly but create through meaningful social interactions and inward reflection. We looked at how we can be better, work harder, get tighter, go deeper as a team and as individuals to get a better performance rather than just look back at why it was so boring.”
Asked for the name of the neuropsychologist who visited Sale, Sanderson kicked to touch. “My missus told me not to tell you. She said to me don’t try and be too funny, because you’re not, don’t talk about people’s injuries because you don’t have that medical experience, and don’t talk about the neuropsychologist who I am currently in love with who does work with the special forces, with the RAF and the chief commander of space defence, whatever the f*** that is.
“This guy is fascinating so everything you thought you knew or were sure about the power of team, the effectiveness, the tightness and the togetherness of the team to enhance performance, the sum of the parts being greater than the individual, everything you thought you knew about that as an intangible thing, this guy has irrefutable neurological evidence for why it improves performance. For a group of South Africans who think that all things lovey-dovey is fluffy, hopefully it opens their eyes to some of the science behind it as well.
“We delved into the topic in respect to the physics study of co-regulation. So if you to twang an A note on the violin where I am sat right now and in the next room even though you couldn’t hear it just the vibrations of that string resonates. If there was a violin in that room it would pick up on that vibration through the wall or whatever it might be.
“That is just an immaterial object but it you were to sit and watch a film, this is proven fact, if there is someone sat next to you subconsciously as a film went on your respiratory and brain rate will synchronise with that person subconsciously. It’s co-regulation.
“Suffice to say that your skin is not the outside of you, it’s just the physical outside of you. There are elements to you that can affect people in a chaos theory, a Plato-physical manner which is now the getting into the understanding of that and if you are able to synch up in a harmonious manner then obviously you can have shared performance.
“It’s a little bit mind-stretching, that is the best way to describe it. To overcome some feelings of frustration is to be curious about how you can be better and we just opened the minds a bit on Monday in and around some of these topics which has got me and the lads talking about it.
“Co-regulation is a real thing… Body language is part of it but they think there is something more, hence why the skin is not the outside of you. If you are aware of that in your interaction with everyone, those small interactions become more meaningful.”
What does all this mean, though, for playing rugby on the pitch? “Don’t get me wrong, we have had that tough conversation and we have kept the rugby fix very, very simple… But we constantly use these opportunities to understand ourselves and performances a little bit more, a little bit greater.
“Everyone comes in and talks about their rugby, that has been the traditional sense. Look we are not playing all that well, there is better ways to do it. I get that but I’m striving for something that might just give us the edge down the line that is a little bit different otherwise I’m only going to be as good as everyone else, we are only going to be as good as everyone else so to do that you have to stretch the boundaries a little bit.
“We have looked at many different tools and avenues to the same end. It’s all about performance but exploring those intangible avenues regarding mentality and those areas where people tend to veer away from through fear because it is not the recognised method of doing it and you can’t measure it.
“We still endeavour to try every hard in the things you can measure but everyone is at a level at that as we know so where do you get the edge? It’s through all the ways and means that we have tried and will continue to explore until we find things that stick and we have found a few things. I do believe that this guy that I have met – and the guy has agreed to help us over the next year – is going to give us some more tools that we can use moving forward.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically. I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
25 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
4 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
4 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’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 comments