ALEX SANDERSON MEDIA SESSION 14/05/2024

TOM CURRY

“He is not available for Saturday. He is not far off but unfortunately he has not made it. We have not done enough rugby exposure with him for him to feel confident. But he is moving incredibly well. He is having a pre-season-style week. He is getting rinsed and that is what we wanted to happen to him. He is there or there abouts but we will make a call if and when we give ourselves an opportunity to play a semi-final.

“There is a far greater chance of him being involved next week if we get to the play-offs. We were talking last Wednesday night because he was moving so well. The pair of us were getting really excited that he was back. We then had a proper chat over coffee without the emotion and asking what is best for him. I think 18 months ago before his consecutive hamstring pulls and all things related to his pelvis and hip he said he would have gone and done it. We feel this is a growth in terms of his maturity of doing what the right thing for him is to ensure he doesn’t play under-par and he has got a lot more years in him rather than burning himself out.

“From a medical perspective we have had discussions about the England tour over the summer. I haven’t from a rugby or coaching perspective yet. I broached the subject last Thursday and Tom said that he wanted to focus on getting himself ready for a possible semi-final and then we will talk about the summer. So he is very in the moment and he doesn’t want to focus too far ahead.”

MANU TUILAGI

“There is a prime example of a real quality player who we made a bit of a fuss over last week. We say goodbye to all our players in a timely fashion where we are able to do it properly. There were tears from a few people and Manu spoke really well, he spoke emotionally and honestly. I am sure the lads carried that onto the field in terms of the performance. At times it probably did make us overreach as there were quite a few turnovers and forced offloads. If that is across the board emotionally you probably haven’t got it quite right, in that sweet spot. It wasn’t Manu as he got it right. That kind of ability to channel your emotion is what the best players do.

“He is playing free. The shackles are always off with Manu. He is just finding himself with the ball loads, wanting it, popping up in the right places and he has still got that trademark devilish, almost hysterical grin when he runs onto the field. You can see he is loving it, feeling every moment. That is when he is at his best. I just need to make sure that he is going into this game with that same energetic charisma that takes people with him and takes away the gravitas of the outcome. He has that about him at the moment. One of his favourite expressions is ‘We have only got this moment’. He makes you believe it. That is the kind of personality that he is driving in training and on the field at the moment, which is coming out in his game. He is truly playing free at the moment.

“He is going to leave a massive void in the summer. The head of medical Nav Sandhu has probably spent more time with Manu than anyone over the last five years, so we got him to speak. He described a scenario that will probably happen in Bayonne where, post-game, he will be sitting in the corner of the square having a game of chess with some of the old guys, that run the local café having a glass of wine. Everyone is going to know him. It is very easy to see him being a very important person in the town down there and able to integrate himself in the culture because that is what he is here. We cannot replace him as an individual. We have to try and fill the void on the field and we have got some good players to do that. We cannot replace the person he is off it. All we can do is honour and show our appreciation for the person he is and the time he has for absolutely everyone. His impact will continue within these walls far beyond the contract that he has served.”

AL’S CONTRACT EXTENSION

“At the beginning I wanted to ensure that the club was stable in terms of the coaching group, spending to the cap and we had the resources. The ways I could do that was use my own contract as leverage. That was a year ago. Through my career I have never not signed a year in advance of my contract ending. I didn’t advertise that I was on the market, that’s why I am assuming there were no other offers. I kept it quiet and the signed the contract extension a few weeks ago. We saw the opportunity on the last home game of the regular season to announce it, which was nice. The reception I got was really nice and I keep getting people texting congratulating me.

“I don’t believe I have ‘made it’ as a director of rugby by any stretch. I feel I still have loads to learn and do. I am more aware of the many hats that a director of rugby has to wear as opposed to an head coach. I am more aware of the held I need if I am going to do a better job at this. That is through a process of board meeting and appraisals I have done. I am probably a little easier on myself by way of some of my standards. I handle curveballs a bit better. That is the nature of the position. There are lots of things I have got better at but still a long way to go. I know we are getting there and we are close but we haven’t proven or rubberstamped it yet.”

WHAT WAS THE ‘LEVERAGE IN CONTRACT TALKS’?

“I had conversations with Simon, Ged and Michelle and I wanted to make sure that they were emotionally and financially going to back the team and the organisation with the resources we need which they are. I knew that a while ago. The other part of it was making sure the coaching team was signed up and happy with their contracts. It was something I experienced in my tenure at Saracens and it was quite a powerful tool to galvanise the coaching group to make sure we were all on board together, people weren’t having their own separate negotiations that circumnavigates the communication lines. I wouldn’t want to go out there and sign my contract and make sure I was alright and then be insecure about theirs. We are a coaching team so it was important that I treated them as I was treated in past which I felt was the right way to do it.”

SAM JAMES

“He was good on Friday night wasn’t he? Simon Orange was down at training today and he mentioned it (trying to convince Sam to stay) again. We have been back to him two or three times. We needed to move and make sure we had enough players in each position. He was adamant he wanted this adventure and wanted to go. He has had a few offers that will enable him to do that, to go and experience rugby in a different country. I will bend his ear at our end-of-season do to see if I can persuade him to stay. He is really talented at everything. He is the heartbeat of this place and will always be welcome back.”

WHO WOULD BE AL’S PLAYER OF THE SEASON?

“George Ford. He has been magnificent. There have been so many good players like Ben Curry, who has been outstanding as a leader, Bevan Rodd has come through really well, Manu is playing out of his skin although he missed the first half of the season. I could go on. Particularly how George came back from the Six Nations, how has he driven the group and taken some much on himself. He has shifted our attacking mentality as he did with England. He has been pivotal in the recent form of our team and internationally as well. I have been mightily impressed by him. He has got it all at the moment.”

FINDING STABILITY DURING THE RUN-IN

“We have definitely found form. Consistency in terms of playing squad, which always helps with form because cohesion is king. It has been a brilliant season and I have loved the ride I have been on with these boys again. It has been far from easy, it has been ageing and stressful. You have really got to look deep within yourself. We could have splintered and fragmented at Christmas but we didn’t and we have come together and found a better form than where we have been in the last three years. That is more rewarding than anything as a coach to be part of a group that finds itself again.”

POSSIBILITY OF KEEPING HYRON ANDREWS ON

“It is something we are looking into. Right now we are in negotiations. The cap is such a moving jigsaw puzzle. There may be some injury dispensation money for one of our lads who had an heart operation this year so we are seeing if it fits and if it’s enough for him (Hyron).”

INJURY UPDATE

Josh Beaumont- needs small op on his foot, not available this weekend

Luke Cowan-Dickie- unwell at the start of last week so didn’t train much and with strength in depth at hooker he was rested, up for selection this week

Joe Carpenter- up for selection this weekend

OTHER NEWS

More at stake for us this weekend but will be very emotional for Saracens with their departing players like Farrell and the Vunipolas, will be a test match intensity, physicality, aware of emotions but not getting too emotional too early in the week

Happy to stay long-term with 10 teams in the league, more money available to the clubs and internationals available more of the time, exhibition games during Six Nations and Autumn Internationals periods a good idea

Our ability to respond to lightning bolts, unforeseen things aligned with a ruthless physicality key for game at Saracens, good responses important

When Al was at Sarries, they felt Sam James was underrated, international-quality outside centre, triple threat, defensive part of the game is something he has worked on in recent years

Feeling of nostalgia when facing Sarries