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'The magic in his feet' reason why Sale are promising to entertain
Alex Sanderson is hoping that his youthful back three of Luke James, Arron Reed and Tom Roebuck can let rip at Ashton Gate and tip the outcome of the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 clash with Bristol the way of Sale on Friday night. The Sharks became embroiled in a first leg snore-fest last Saturday with the Bears at the AJ Bell, a low frills match eventually getting won 10-9 by the visitors thanks to a late Semi Radradra try.
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Six days on, the teams are ready to do it all again, only this time Sanderson is banking on better execution and greater ambition in their play to make the telling difference. James, the recently turned 23-year-old, is now enjoying a run as the Sale full-back, the 22-year-old Reed is showing promise on the left wing while the 21-year-old Roebuck is back from injury to fill the right wing berth.
It’s a very different complexion from the experienced back three that Sale started the 2021/22 season with, the seasoned full-back Simon Hammersley linking up with ex-England wingers Denny Solomona and Marland Yarde as well as Scotland winger Byron McGuigan. Sanderson is excited by the potential of his young bucks and reckons a far more entertaining spectacle is guaranteed to happen at Bristol than what took place last Saturday in Manchester.
“Through injury and other things outside the game we have lost two of our most senior back three players,” explained Sanderson when asked this week by RugbyPass about the youthfulness of his current selection in that sector of the pitch. “Up step Tom Roebuck and Arron Reed who are now regular fixtures. Tom is back fit for selection this weekend.
“These are really exciting young players who score a lot of tries, who are good aerially and still there is a lot more to come from. Even looking at Arron’s breaks last weekend, there were a couple of opportunities where we could have scored a simple two-on-one and it’s a different game.
“They want to take this opportunity on this main stage to showcase what they are about at a level where only international is higher. There is only one place you can go above top European rugby so if they are excelling here then they put themselves on that radar for international selection. Surely they are? There’s two. Luke is another one,” continued the Sale boss, switching to what James now has to offer the team.
“He stepped out of the shadow of his brother (Sam), worked tremendously hard on his high ball knowing that if he can catch it and there is a bit of space he has got the magic in his feet to make those kind of breaks, which he did again last weekend. That is exciting and I’m really excited with where we are going, where Paul Deacon is going with that, to be brave and back this young talent because we want to score tries as much as bang people in defence.
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“We have seen that since Christmas in that little run, less recently so in the last two weeks but that is not our intent… there is some good young talent in the squad and these kind of experiences are priceless. They are only going to grow through them and that is why I can almost guarantee it will be a better performance. Whether it be nervousness or mistakes or over-eagerness, they have got it out, they got that monkey off the back and this weekend, I’m sure it will be a lot more free-flowing and the shackles will be off a bit more.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments