Sale keen to send Tuilagi off in style
ALEX Sanderson will use the impending loss of Manu Tuilagi as fuel to drive Sale up the Premiership table and put them back on course for another final at Twickenham.
Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby, did everything he could to keep 32-year old centre Tuilagi, who won his 60th England cap off the bench against France last week, at the AJ Bell Stadium, but a hike in the salary cap was not enough for the Sharks to be able to match Bayonne.
“No club in the Premiership would have had the money,” said Sanderson, who has signed the Fiji captain and centre Waisea Nayacalevu for next season. “I knew he was going in February. It was not a persuasion thing. I believe he would have stayed but what we offered him was not what he was worth.
“You are torn because you have to wear a club hat. You want to focus on and care for the person and when it comes down to numbers you have to shelve your principles for the good of the team. If that starts to get weary I will have lost a bit of my soul.
“I am still reacting to it because it is a wrench in my heart. It was the right decision for his family at this stage in his career. He will leave a massive void to fill given his emotional consistency, how composed he is and the energy he gives.
“That is aside from his ball carrying. We use goodbyes as fuel because the lads want to send off their friends with fond memories. How can we make the next few months the most memorable of his career?
“Waisea will give us strength in depth and pathway open Reiki. He dents defences and has brilliant offloading ability. He will provide X factor as well as leadership quality. He inspired Fiji emotionally in the World Cup and we are excited to have him on board.”
Sale will need Tuilagi at his best, along with their other returning internationals, who include outside-half George Ford, after going into a tailspin either side of Christmas.
After winning six of their opening seven Premiership fixtures their only victory in the last five was at home to Saracens.
“It is obvious what we need to do with our league position,” said Sanderson whose side have not lost in the Premiership at Bath since 2019. “It is the same for everyone and I think we will all take points off each other.
“We will probably have to win four out of our final six matches. We have reached the business end of season and we will know where we stand in a couple of weeks.
“Northampton were the only ones to buck the inconsistency trend over Christmas. We have had a chance to refresh and get nine lads back from injury. We have to get the attitude right and retain emotional consistency. We are dangerous enough and capable enough to have a real go at the run-in.”
Outside-half Ford had a significant influence in England’s strong finish to the Six Nations, getting the back division firing by standing flat and making quick decisions. He will have a week off soon under the terms of the elite player agreement having started all England’s Six Nations matches and been on the field for 345 minutes.
“England shifted a lot of their time in the week to attack having been relatively predictable in the way they went up the field,” said Sanderson. “They wanted more variety and that meant getting the ball in George’s hands more so he could pick the best space.
“He was influential and I am made up because he has found his form. He will help with the emotional consistency we need. George is one of the mot professional people I know and he is always ready to go on match day.”
Ford returns to the side for the clash at The Rec along with Tuilagi, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Tom Roebuck. England prop Bevan Rodd makes his first appearance since November after recovering from a toe injury.