ALEX SANDERSON MEDIA SESSION 22/2/2023

MANU TUILAGI’S RED CARD

“He is still upset and carrying it, 4 days on. The situation he put the team in on the weekend which he is repentant for, in every sense of the word. He wasn’t just sorry, he said he was going to make it up to us.”

OFFICIATING ON THE WEEKEND AND COMMUNICATION FROM THE OFFICIALS

“The feedback we got was that it was extremely unfortunate that all the big decisions went against Sale. The officials believe they got the decisions right. They have been through the game again along with the clips we sent through and that was the response we got that it was extremely unfortunate that all the big decisions went against Sale.

“I have to agree with the officials, it’s done and the game has been and gone. If that’s how they are going to see the game then I have to coach accordingly.”

“There is a much more open forum for communication this year which is beneficial. It has certainly benefitted us in our understanding, hence the improvement in our discipline. So you are able to speak to the referees up to 48 hours before a game, but there is some leeway there if you are travelling. You are able to send clips through about opposition to get clarity as to what their perception of certain infringements are. We like the referees to speak to the opposition about the clips we send through so it is not just a case of catching people out. We want the whistle to blow less and for the referee to have less impact on the outcome of the game. That’s the pre-game process.

“Post-game you can send in up to 8 clips within 24 hours. Then what I have been doing personally is calling up the referees and having a conversation, 360 feedback on our lads and what he perceived and also our perceptions on how we felt about the refereeing and how it was communicated on the pitch. That relationship is important. On the back of that you will get feedback of the clips you send in. I might add I haven’t sent any clips this season before this week at which point they were wholly disregarded. It means I need to improve my communication.

“It is done and I am trying not to carry it. The communication between myself, Ian Tempest and all the other referees has been nothing short of brilliant. Their openness to speak post-game and pre-game. I rang up Ian Tempest on Sunday morning because I was still carrying it and he answered the phone on his day-off which is brilliant. We talked around the issues, I vented a bit and he told me how he saw it. I sent the clips over on Monday. There is none of that process which I find frustrating. It was some of the inconsistency in the decisions.

WOULD IT BE BENEFICIAL FOR REFEREES TO EXPLAIN DECISIONS POST-GAMES?

“Definitely. We have 45 players, some of whom have been playing for 20 years and we still get referees in so they can explain what they are seeing and what the directives are from World Rugby. When Wayne Barnes goes on Rugby Tonight on BT Sport and talks through certain decisions. Whether or not they can get a referee as part of the commentary team and they could talk through certain decisions with the commentators from a referees’ perspective to tell the audience so there is a better connection there.”

SURPRISED THAT GEORGE FORD HAS BEEN RELEASED BACK TO SALE THIS WEEK?

“Not in the way that England played the last game. It’s a surprise in terms of the talent he is. I’m sure he will fight his way in but I think England had a progression in the Italy game last week. It looked like they were playing to some of their strengths, like they had more structure that they could build from and it is very difficult for Steve Borthwick after a good performance to change the squad too much but it was good that he was included. I think it is really good that he has had a look and been in camp this week. He enjoyed it. He is back with us now.”

ENGLAND’S TREATMENT OF BEN CURRY

“Ben and Tom are England players at this point in the season. I feel fortunate if we get any game time back with them because they are England players and I want them to play for England. There is the added factor that they are obviously twins and these twins play in similar positions and they are in competition which makes it more difficult I would say to take when you are not involved and your twin brother is. That’s quite obvious. I think anyone would empathise with that. I have a brother. As much as you want them to be in there you don’t want to see someone as close as that take your place. It hurts more especially when you live with them. There is the fact that Ben hasn’t been in with England for quite a while and he has worked and fought his way in and to reach the pinnacle of your career. And for that rug to be snatched from under your feet is difficult for any unexperienced international to take. An experienced international player let alone someone winning only their second international cap.

“That’s the game and it will happen again and again. Your ability to handle non-selection, to take on responsibility when selected and to flip between the two is one of the hardest mental attributes and skills that you can acquire. Added to that is the fact that it is his twin that is involved in this it should be a very sensitive and well-thought through plan and well-communicated. With the nature of the injuries and the fallow week I wouldn’t have handled it the same way. But then I have a great deal more sentimentality towards these two. England don’t need to have that sentimentality as they have the pick of the bunch. That’s the nature of the international environment compared to the club environment. I might say that I have been communicated to well enough from the camp through Richard Hill who has been brilliant. I have been communicating more so with Ben and Tom because of all the influencing factors which could derail them but it hasn’t. Ben is in a great place going back in but it has taken no mean effort on the trips and days off between to reframe his mentality.”

INJURY UPDATE

Tom Curry- 2C Hamstring injury on opposite side to previous injury, soft muscle injury 4-6 weeks out, knows his body and mind very well which means he can come off an injury immediately and hit the ground running as he showed against Northampton, uses injury layoffs to come back fitter and stronger

Akker van der Merwe- unlikely to be fit for this weekend, could be fit for Saracens game, neck specialist said it was manageable through rehab rather than an operation

Nick Schonert- got a stinger and neck compression against Northampton which caused tingling in the arms, should feature this weekend

OTHER NEWS

Tom and Ben Curry under contract for another 2 years

Still trying to find a way of fitting Manu Tuilagi into the salary cap

Thought Ben Curry grafted during first England start against Scotland and was influential in every part of the game, will go into Wales game with less mental stress, should be easier for him going into this week’s England game

Jamie Langley is now officially new defence coach succeeding Mike Forshaw, backed Langley to succeed in role