'What he was willing to sacrifice in wages to stay here...': Sale shed light on why Manu Tuilagi was convinced to stay
Sale boss Alex Sanderson has spoken about his bromance with Manu Tuilagi which resulted in the Gallagher Premiership club convincing the England midfielder that his career was best served by staying with them for the next two years.
A deal taking Tuilagi through to 2023 at the club he signed for last July on a one-year contract was unveiled on Monday and Sanderson, who only took over the reins at the Sharks in January, gave his side of the negotiations that had happened when he fronted the club’s media session on Tuesday evening.
Having worked as an assistant at Saracens prior to succeeding Steve Diamond at Sale, Sanderson wouldn’t have known Tuilagi at all until this year. However, the Sharks medical department telling Tuilagi to go hiking to stretch out the achilles he tore last September became an opportunity for the new director of rugby to get to know the 29-year-old.
It resulted in Monday’s announcement that Tuilagi had ignored offers elsewhere and will stay in Manchester where he hopes to be back on the pitch next month to declare his fitness for the upcoming Lions tour if Warren Gatland wants to pick him.
“From my end, I like the man,” said Sanderson when asked how the Tuilagi contract renewal at Sale had come about. “We were looking at numbers and what we need as a squad and how it all fits together to stay under the (revised salary) cap and our prediction of what Manu would be offered and probably was offered wouldn’t fit those plans going forward.
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'In terms of the environment, he’s the glue in the squad'https://t.co/yBzRKRDv7q
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“So I wanted to understand the man because at that moment I was looking at numbers and this was a few weeks into the current tenure. I went on a hike with him. He had been going on four-to-ten mile hikes around the Peak District to get his achilles working again so I thought what better way than going on a walk with him.
“I went stride for stride with him for three hours and fall in love isn’t too strong a word. I have got a massive bromance for the fella, a huge bromance. He is a very intelligent, multi-layered, deep person and understanding his values as a human being, what he wanted moving forward for the rest of his life and then having a few conversations around the place with other people on what they thought of him, it just seemed like a no-brainer.
“Let alone his rugby talent, don’t get me wrong, and then understanding what he gave up, what he was willing to sacrifice in wages to stay here with us was a testament to how much he wanted to be a part of this organisation moving forward, so it just made complete sense for us to keep him, look after him and get him back hopefully on the Lions, that’s the aim.
“Everyone can get more money in France,” continued Sanderson. “There is more money there, the salary cap is bigger… but from my understanding of players who have done as much as he has done, who have achieved as much as he has, who is from a quite hierarchical Samoan family that can be difficult to get him to open up, that takes time but it felt with Manu it was almost immediate.
“He just let me in from the off so we were already communicating at quite a deep level about the big stuff, important stuff, principle, values, life in general. We got to that level of communication quickly. Why did he stay for us for less? Potentially I’d like to think he feels is part of a club, a family, a brotherhood moving forward which is what we are trying to build and he feels an integral part of that.
“Like I asked the lads today [Tuesday], we were in a meeting looking at the Golden State Warriors who were immense, said to be the world’s best team ever. They had nine key principles they stuck to and one of them was what we discussed today, the team culture and team concept and it talked about everyone knowing their role from the best player to the worst player and we tried to compare ourselves to it.
“I asked a question: who here has Manu Tuilagi taught to be a barista, taught you how to make a proper cup of coffee? I’m talking about half the squad, 25 of them, he has got a part-time job here as a barista. That speaks volumes of the bloke that he is. He has got time for everyone, not just to have coffee but to teach them a little skill and that is off the field while he is injured. That is one example of the kind of glue he is around the place.”
The RFU's verdict on Jones is as popular as football's European Super League plan https://t.co/XRPtOe90la
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 20, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
15 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments