POOR CONVERSION RATE IN OPPOSITION 22
“It is probably a few factors, it is never truly one. We have managed to thin-slice it to one; we can improve our connection between the backs and forwards. We have mentioned that this week, worked on that and what I mean by improving connections is asking more questions in terms of our attack and not being as predictable as we were on Friday. I mentioned it post-game and we have worked hard on it this week. I have been buoyed up by how we have been training and how we can push it forward.”
LONG LIST OF INJURIES THIS SEASON
“We are not the only ones. I am never going to use injuries as an excuse. I would be much happier to talk about the players coming on rather than those who are unavailable. This season is different because of the long run of games we have had. That takes its toll on the body, in particular on the way we play. We knew that this period post-Harlequins to the Six Nations break would a tough and we would have to share the load in terms of using the whole squad. That has proven to be the case.”
DOES THE SCHEDULE NEED TO BE TWEAKED?
“Yes I do. In hindsight it is dead-easy because everyone is suffering quite a high frequency of injuries brought about by back-to-back tough games against high-quality teams which has meant a lot of the Premiership teams have had to rotate squads in the Champions Cup, ourselves included. The fact that we are still getting good performances and results is a testament to the Premiership at the moment. We started late because of the World Cup and finishing bang on time. I am quite happy to start in September and end in July if we can get those breaks in the season and make sure we have an increased focus on player welfare.”
IS THERE GOING TO BE A BIGGER TURNOVER OF PLAYERS THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED?
“In hindsight and on reflection of the last three years the answer is no. There are things that I couldn’t foresee because it is impossible to know the minds of men as I have said before. This is seemingly a reoccurrence of what the game is about and dictates, particularly in the modern era with a lower salary cap than Japan, France. It doesn’t become any easier but it is something I have come to expect.
“I think the rugby climate has been extremely turbulent and there are always ripple effects. On the back of World Cup cycles, definitely with Covid, which has had its own effect on my own decision making. People are more aware financially that they have a finite time in the sport and what they want from life. Those things affect players and the outcome is increased movement. Throw World Cup cycles into that and players’ motivation as the goalposts shift whether they are in or out of World Cup squads. World Cup cycles with differing coaches, it is another cat amongst the pigeons.”
INTEREST IN MASON GRADY
“Who wouldn’t be interested in Mason Grady if they had space in the squad and salary cap for them? He is a supreme, multi-sport athlete from a sporty family. His brother played rugby for Wales, his mother played basketball for Wales and he played basketball. He has got aerial ability, speed and youthful enthusiasm where he is going to grow. You have to keep looking to strengthen your squad and he is potentially one of those to do that. We had a chat to him and we will see where it lands. That’s no secret.
“Always there has got to be a pathway. I’m not into warehousing players – don’t have the money, the time or the resources quite frankly to manage them. But more so, being burned by the changing nature of people's mindset and movement that you have to be consistently feather your nest or at least have the opportunity. Have your ticket in the hat so to speak. I know we are one of many clubs who have had a chat to him.”
SOUTH AFRICAN CONTINGENT RETURNING TO HOMELAND THIS WEEKEND TO FACE THE STORMERS
“They have been excited for months. They are back here and showing their homeland to their mates. They are never more motivated than when they are playing their own kind the South Africans. They are generally culture-based around respect. Rugby is like a religion here. They have driving the sessions and are really excited to put best our best foot forward. They have been right at the forefront of it.
“The boys have been encouraged to go out and socialise. We are using it to get better on the field and tighter off it. I am certain that the social aspects of our trip will ramp up towards the weekend. But it is not a holiday.”
CHALLENGE OF FACING A SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM IN SOUTH AFRICA
“What better motivator for the players than making a bit of history. It allows you to play a bit freer. I am sure people are not expecting much like they did against Leinster. I keep referring back to Luke Littler. I am not a big darts fan but I got into the it at the World Championships. My wife weirdly is into it. I watched Littler’s semi-final and he just didn’t have a care in the world. His technique was so consistent and he was playing with people on the darts board. I take inspiration from that. Can we release the fear and anxiety off in order to express ourselves with a freedom as a 16-year-old would? That is the holy grail of sport. In essence it is where we need to take our attack to. We need to be more expressive and ask more questions and not die wondering. I would rather die a quick death than a slow one.”
BEN CURRY’S LEADERSHIP
“I have been impressed with him, that’s why he is captain! It was a quasi-leadership role with Jono Ross two years ago. He then took over that role last year. It has changed again now with Jono moving on. Jono had his South African contingent, a larger one, behind him at that point. That lends itself to a style, a bit more authoritarian, surly I might say. Not a bad style, it works and he was brilliant at bringing Ben on. Ben has grown again this year. It is a different relationship again. People can fill the void with Jono not being there and being a voice, the likes of Rob du Preez and George Ford have a big influence as well.
“It’s been testing at times as it should be. His communications are getting better and he thinks differently. It is definitely improving him as a person because he has to take a breath and calm down, thinking about what other people are thinking and what they need to hear, not what he is feeling or thinking. That’s the hardest skill as a leader in the heat of the moment. He is grasping that at a tender age in his mid-20’s.
“Captaincy is a big role and is more than just the decisions on the field. There are lots of little conversations that go into it that happen all the time. A lot of conversations with me and the coaches. He is a conduit for that. Sometimes hard conversations when he will ring me on a day off about the week and how they felt. A lot of players don’t want that, they want to just focus on their job. He has a thirst for it. Tom doesn’t really want that as he wants to focus on his game. He leads really well but all the periphery stuff Ben has a thirst for that. It is something you have to take on board as a captain.”
A WIN ON SATURDAY POTENTIALLY SECURING QUALIFICATION
“From the pool of death, mega. It is what we are going for. We want a home semi-final, to give ourselves the best chance in the best competition. We are going to throw everything at it, everything we can at this moment in time. We want to go through and that is the aim.
INJURY UPDATE
George Ford- hopeful we will see him in a Sale shirt before the Six Nations, low-grade MCL injury, can stiffen up with injections, making a good recovery, hasn’t travelled to South Africa because he needs injections in his knee, he has had two injections this week, got injured right at the end of the Northampton game
Sam Bedlow- has travelled to South Africa, got over minor injury and illness, up for selection
Manu Tuilagi- on target, mid-Six Nations
OTHER NEWS
Everyone has been brought across to SA, including injured and rehabbing players (other than George Ford), wanted everyone to experience, ability to connect off-field during this trip, connections off the field will translate into connections on the field, we need to push our game forward
Ross Harrison has been in great form of late- 69 tackles in last four games, including 22 against Northampton, a bit of it is sticking it to Alex for not picking him with Bev Rodd and Si McIntyre ahead of him in the pecking order, best professional at the club and that is including Tom Curry, first in and last out of the gym, consistent with his preparation, fitness and robustness right up there, captain of energy
Very hot and unprecedented wind in Cape Town, with it being a night-time fixture on Saturday night it will be cooler and less windy in the game, bucket hats taken!
Focused a lot this week on our own game and what needs to improve from the Northampton and Bristol game, looked at how effective we are in attack, good game management and physicality still very important
We are in retention talks with Rob du Preez to keep him another season, Tom Curtis wants to play more so that is an assurance we have to give him for his development, three really good fly-halves for the foreseeable future
Youngsters will learn a huge amount and be better for the experience in Cape Town this weekend, you cannot take that experience away from these players
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