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'The only other thing is to start fining the lads...': Sanderson fuming over Sale discipline

By PA
(Photo by PA)

Director of rugby Alex Sanderson admits Sale must improve their discipline if they are to be genuine title challengers in the Premiership this season. The Manchester outfit had Rob du Preez sent off in the first half of their game against Gloucester for a tip-tackle on Val Rapava-Ruskin but they showed tremendous spirit to secure a valuable 25-22 triumph.

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Faf de Klerk, Arron Reed and Marland Yarde all touched down while AJ MacGinty came onto the field to kick eight points, including the game-winning penalty. Sanderson was full of praise for the resilience and composure of Sale but there were continued concerns around the amount of yellow and red cards they have received.

He said: “It [discipline] is addressed, constantly addressed, through our behaviours, through an awareness. The only other thing is to start fining the lads and that’s not the way forwards. Any discipline has got to be self-discipline.

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“We’re going to get caught out at some point, it does need to improve. I thought the discipline generally was good (the penalty count was 13-9 against Gloucester) but it’s the yellow and red cards you are talking about. We are such a physical team, a big, upright team, and we tend to give a lot of shots around the neck. This was slightly different in that it was a tip-tackle from Rob du Preez, who us not a dirty player, but it is what it is.

“I’m fed up of calling refs, saying ‘that was hard luck’, as it’s out of your control. You can’t control that, so otherwise you end up being quite a bitter old man if you are blaming the refs for penalties and your own ill-discipline.

“If you get everything right in terms of your systems, discipline doesn’t come into it. If we had got our exit right, got our ruck right, it [the red card] wouldn’t have happened. If you focus on yourself and focus on what you do then the rest should look after itself.”

Following the disappointment of their defeat to La Rochelle in the Champions Cup last weekend and the issues caused by du Preez’s red card, Sale could have folded but Sanderson was pleased with the response of the players.

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He added: “It came off the back of twelve weeks’ competition, with the last three weeks on the road and a massive loss against La Rochelle. It’s not just the red, it’s all that’s gone before so when you put it into that context, look at how deep they dug. I couldn’t be prouder of that group of lads, I’m so privileged to be a part of it. The boys have got some ticker, haven’t they?”

Sale’s win condemned Gloucester to their twelfth Premiership defeat of the season and head coach George Skivington believed their performance was better prior to the red card. He said: “The lads were bringing the physicality, the lads were organised and them losing a player actually knocked us off our stride.

“We started playing a little bit differently to what we set out to do. We probably tried to get to that third phase before we had run the first and second. I was disappointed with how we managed it. I thought the effort and physicality was there, I thought the two defences went toe-to-toe, but in the end they managed it better than us.”

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of 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 Brooke. 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 by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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