Saracens job bigger than England says Sanderson
FOUR-TIME Premiershipwinning coach Alex Sanderson says he has no current aspirations to become England’s new defensive guru and would view such a role as a step down.
Saracens forwards and defence specialist Sanderson has been linked with the England vacancy created by Paul Gustard’s imminent move to Harlequins as head coach.
However, the 38-year-old, who has coached at Saracens since 2008 and has now extended his contract until 2022, insists he has had no contact from England’s hierarchy.
“Club comes first for me,” Sanderson, right, told
The Rugby Paper. “I’m relatively young in coaching terms and could have another 20-30 years in the game, so what’s the rush?
“No one’s rung me from England, it was only a rumour. In any case, do you see it as a bigger job?
“The perception is that England, through obligation and because it’s the country, is a progression, but I wouldn’t have as much influence with England as I do at Sarries.
“I coach a side of internationals on a daily basis as it is and I have more influence over more parts of the game here than I would as just a defence coach with England.
“I don’t think that’s a bigger job, it’s a smaller job for what is perceived as a bigger cause. In terms of my future development, I’m probably in the best place I can be.”
Sanderson, whose achievements at Saracens also include back-to-back Champions Cup wins in 2016 and 2017, would command top-dollar coaching at Test level with England.
However, he added: “If it’s for ego or cash, you’re probably not doing it for the right reasons. Money’s certainly not my motivation and never has been.
“When you think about all these things, put all the cards out on the table and prioritise what’s important to you, the deck stacks heavily towards Saracens for me. “If things did get stale and if we ever did lose the players, we’d be having a different conversation, but that’s not the case because we’re still developing and pushing.” From a horror run before Christmas that saw Saracens lose seven consecutive games, Sanderson rates this year’s title win as one of his best achievements to date.
He explained: “It’s probably been the most rewarding season I’ve had, just for the ups and downs and how the lads took it upon themselves to push performance levels forward.
“I’m still not satisfied with how many tries we conceded but we’ve certainly got a better balance between attack and defence. I get credit for the defence but the attack has made the difference and Kevin Sorrell and Joe Shaw deserve a lot more credit for that.
“We’ve looked unstoppable when we’ve had momentum and it’s been brilliant to watch.”
Despite the retirements of long-serving club legends Schalk Brits and Chris Wyles, Sanderson insists the desire to keep piling up silverware remains undiminished.
He added: “There’s a bit of a changing of the guard but we feel we can move on again and there’s a good core group of young leaders in George Kruis, Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Jamie George, plus people who are really beginning to step up.
“Alex Lozowski’s been brilliant playing at No.13 and we’ve also got a group of even younger lads like Joel Kpoku, Rotemi Segun, Max Malins and Ali Crossdale who are ready to push through. It’s just about making sure they get the game time.”