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'We have seen an exciting glimpse of what we're going to be about'
Alex Sanderson was encouraged by Sale’s attacking threat as they began their Gallagher Premiership campaign with a bonus-point 29-22 home win over Northampton.
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Gus Warr scored the only try of a low-scoring first half before a stunning six-minute second-half spell saw Sale score three tries through Sam James, Luke James and summer signing Tom O’Flaherty to put the game out of reach.
The away side did fight back to score three late tries of their own, with Tom Collins crossing for a brace and Ollie Sleightholme also dotting down.
Much of Sale’s pre-season has been spent looking at changing their attack and Sanderson was delighted his side showcased the progress made in the opening game of the season.
He said: “We have seen an exciting glimpse of what we’re going to be about.
“There has been a shift in focus in the way we will endeavour to attack opposition teams and there was also lots of physicality in defence I thought.
“We look like we could be hard to stop this season.
“In previous seasons we have looked under-cooked at times, but today we showed good signs of form and that’s encouraging.”
There was more to be positive about for Sale too, with centre Manu Tuilagi returning from 16 weeks out with a knee injury and allowing his side to get over the gain line.
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Sanderson added: “It is good to see Manu get that game-time under his belt.
“Hopefully we will get a full 80 minutes out of him soon. He showed what he’s about and he’ll keep working hard.
“It is great to have him back on the field and overall there were many more positives than negatives.”
New Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson was less pleased with his side after they struggled to get a foothold in the game and found themselves 29-3 down after the hour mark.
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But he was impressed by their response, with the three late scores earning Northampton a losing bonus point.
“I feel like we let too much go in the first hour of the game,” said Dowson
“We created opportunities to score, but it is frustrating we did not go on to finish off more of them.
“Overall we were not quite as efficient as I know we can be and Sale took advantage of that.
“It was looking ugly for us at 29-3 behind, but to be fair I thought the lads showed plenty of heart and commitment after that.
“There are lots of things we can look back on and work on making improvements, but it is early days and we will get better as the season progresses.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
51 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
51 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
51 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
51 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
51 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
51 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
51 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments