TAPPING INTO PRIDE OF REPRESENTING THE NORTH GOING INTO THE FINAL
“Of course. I think I mentioned it after the semi-final win that one of our reasons why is trying to inspire people in this area, make them proud of this team, first and foremost by playing an entertaining, winning style of rugby. Then to inspire kids to come down and hopefully to be the next generation of Sale Sharks. To be able to have a day like that at the AJ Bell was pretty special and hopefully we give a great day out for the fans travelling down to Twickenham for the final.”
USING HIS OWN EXPERIENCE
“It is something we have spoken about as leaders and we did so in the semi-final week as those are the types of weeks where you want your leaders to step. You want them to step up day after day during the week but most importantly by the way they play on the weekend. The best and most successful teams I have been a part of the leaders step up. I think it is positive that we have a lot of young lads who are pretty fearless in the way they play the game. They are going into a new environment on Saturday but we see that as a positive as well. These guys are really excited to play at Twickenham on a stage like the Premiership final. I think the balance and blend of youth and experienced is a massive positive for us.”
WHAT IT MEANS TO PLAY FOR HIS HOMETOWN CLUB IN THE FINAL
“Anytime you get an opportunity to play in a game or a final like this weekend you feel privileged to do so. I was lucky enough to do it a few times. I have got the excitement of this one coming up on Saturday. Each time has been as special as the other times. Coming to a new club, having an influence on a new club and having the opportunity to do something special at the weekend is something I am proud of but also we are all proud of as a club. Hopefully we do ourselves justice on Saturday. We are going to prepare as well as we can for it and we are excited to have all our families there watching. We are chomping at the bit for the game.”
“We are confident. The way we have played this year on both sides of the ball. The world-class players we have. We are confident that we are going to perform really well.”
DECISION TO JOIN SALE
“Money was not a big part in my decision to join Sale because if it were about the financials I wouldn’t have moved. It was more than that. It was returning to where I grew up, to be close to my family, coming to a team that had unbelievable potential to start competing and hopefully challenging for titles. Also you need a new challenge sometimes, when the easier decision for a player can be to stay comfortable and stick where you are. You have got a decision where maybe you can come out of your comfort zone coming to a new team. You are at a stage where you have got to start influencing a new group of players. Certainly I felt that coming back from injury I feel reinvigorated being part of a new environment with all these unbelievable players and coaches. I have loved it.”
COMPETITION IN THE NORTH WEST FOR SPORT
“We understand as a club the challenges of football and rugby league teams around us. That’s not going to change. What we can control is trying to be the best rugby union team on the field week-in, week-out up here. We do that by getting to work every day. It’s not just the rugby side of things it’s the whole club all coming together and pulling in the same direction. As we saw in the semi-final the atmosphere and enjoyment people took out of that day was something else. The number of lads from this area playing in this team now who have come up through the academy, it means a hell of a lot to them. So of course we are passionate about representing Sale and making rugby union up here as popular as possible.”
Spoke about enjoying playing against his good mate Owen Farrell, those are the challenges you want, watching the Champions Cup final and learning off that
Who can execute best in the key moments, under pressure, both sides will be putting each other under pressure and it’s how you deal with that
Always going to be a bit of niggle in a final, key is to find sweet-spot and not becoming too emotional and ill-disciplined
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