Sanderson’s keen to end the season on real high
AN important final few weeks of the season await for Sale as the Premiership campaign enters its run-in with the club still having an outside shot at a top-four finish.
Sharks travel to Wasps tonight in their penultimate game of the season and director of rugby Alex Sanderson is keen there is a positive end to the campaign for both the players who are staying and those who are leaving.
“It has been really competitive this year and I have revelled in that, and it has kept us in the fight since Christmas because it has been so close,” said Sanderson.
“It means you have got to be on it every weekend, as is the case this weekend.
“That is the more difficult task with holidays on the horizon, you have to try to keep them focused on the very real threat the opposition around you pose during these last two weeks and what we have got to play for on one front but to some degree, as we have spoken about in the past, what some of these lads are leaving behind.
“The players who are remaining want to be in the main competition, those young lads who came out to France (in the Champions Cup game with Racing 92) who didn’t play and had a great time want to have that opportunity to play against the best opposition.
“And those guys that are leaving care enough about all the lads that they have played with and lived with to leave the club in a good position.”
Sale welcome back Arron Reed from suspension on the wing tonight, replacing Simon Hammersley in the starting XV.
Sam James replaces his brother Luke, who misses out due to injury, at full-back.
Sale’s three representatives in the England training squad – who meet up on Sunday – Tom Curry, Manu Tuilagi and Bevan Rodd, all start.
Sale will welcome England secondrow Jonny Hill to the club from Exeter this summer. Hill hasn’t played since early January due to injury.
“Our head of medical here has been touching base with them without being too invasive,” said Sanderson.
“So he is aware of where they are at in terms of rehabilitation and as soon as we can get him in, like the week after the season finishes, we will.
“We will get him in, check him, send him away with a programme if we need to.
“Without stepping on toes we feel we are as informed as we can be.
“Eddie (Jones) keeps his cards pretty close to his chest, I was out with him this week and we were talking about Jonny, about what a good player he is and what a good lad he is.
“I think if he is fit he will go with England on their tour to Australia, I do.
“Eddie is building now, he is a year away (from the World Cup).
“It is so important to get some of the major leaders of your squad there for that building process.
“The person Jonny is, if he is going to be a leader there, which I am sure he will be, they need him there right from the start.”