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'You always have an interest, particularly ones like Denny'
Sale boss Alex Sanderson will keep a Saturday morning eye on how the club’s ex-winger Denny Solomona will fare with the Highlanders in the quarter-finals of the Super Rugby Pacific away to the Blues at Eden Park. The former England pick made an April 1 debut at the Crusaders and having been named at 23rd man for the knockout game in Auckland, he is poised for a sixth appearance for his new team following his surprise exit from Manchester last November.
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Solomona quit the Gallagher Premiership club without having a team lined up to join in New Zealand but having made the trip home he was eventually picked up by the Dunedin-based franchise and has made good his gamble of leaving Sale unexpectedly.
”Of course, I take an interest,” said Sale boss Sanderson to RugbyPass when asked about the progress of Solomona on the other side of the world. “By and large four and five people leave clubs every year, so you get used to not the revolving door but certainly the flow of players coming in and coming out.
“But you always have an interest, particularly ones like Denny which was a bit of a surprise but we thought it was the right thing for him to go on and get what he wants. It [him doing well at the Highlanders] fortifies your decision and the conversations that you had.
“I was even texting Will Skelton on Saturday night, I haven’t coached him for years,” he added about another old player who last weekend was celebrating Heineken Champions Cup success with La Rochelle.
The pair worked together at Saracens and shared in European success in 2019 before both went their separate ways, Skelton to France to play and Sanderson to Manchester to take charge at Sale after years of assistant coaching. “Chuffed to bits with him. The last time we went to La Rochelle he turned up with a couple of bottles of wine with his missus so that is the best thing about the job for me, the relationships that keep on going after your time spent with the lads.”
It was early December when Sanderson first spoke to RugbyPass about his mixed feelings that Solomona had exited just months after what the director of rugby described as one of his proudest moments since becoming Sale boss in January 2021.
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Sanderson and his staff had worked hard to get Solomona back into the first-team mix following his latest issues with mental health, a comeback desire that was fulfilled in September when the 28-year-old came off the bench at London Irish to make his first appearance since February. The coach described it as one of his proudest moments at the Sharks.
However, November discussions about a contract extension quickly ended with Solomona being released early from his existing deal in order to return home to New Zealand, a turn of events that took Sale boss by surprise as Solomona had gone on to make six Sale appearances following his September return to the team.
“I’m happy for him in that I think this could be what he needs for his overall happiness,” said Sanderson at the time. “We tried everything we could but he probably wasn’t getting it here and I have always maintained that you need to be at least content in all parts of your life to get the best out of you on the field. The best players are those that have everything sorted and flowing. Denny didn’t have those things.
“Look, it’s a failure potentially on my part but I tried, we tried with professionals, everything we could to get him in that right spot and try as we might, it was still too far a reach for him. I thought we were there and we were in parts, but it was a bit of a struggle.
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“All of that sounds negative but it is not negative if he has gone to a better place and he and his family are happy. That is the way I can justify my efforts and not feel like I let him down. I don’t think I have let him down. We have helped him get to a place where he was miles better than he was when I turned up.”
Solomona originally joined Sale from rugby league’s Castleford in 2016 and his Premiership Cup start at Leicester on November 13 was his final match for the club as it was announced 13 days later that the five-cap England winger was heading home to New Zealand for personal reasons and would continue his playing career there.
Comments on RugbyPass
Quite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
10 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
1 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
10 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
10 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
10 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
10 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
10 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
10 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
10 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
10 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
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