ON SALE’S IMPRESSIVE START TO THE NEW SEASON
“Since I have been here it has always been quite difficult to start the season and we have been quite reactionary. It probably has to be put down to the coaches and players having a hard look at themselves over pre-season. We have made some subtle changes to our game and we seem to bearing the fruits of that. But I think it is important to level expectations, keep our foot on the ground and continue to do what we have done over the last two or three months throughout pre-season and the start of the season. It is important to continue doing those things to ensure that we continue to play well. It’s probably going to be a really big ask to continue going as we are, we are going to lose games along the way but if we keep doing the things we are doing and working hard hopefully we can be in and around that top 4 at the end of the season.”
IMPACT OF THE NEW SIGNINGS
“They have had a big impact clearly. George (Ford) is a very experienced player, a quality player who has a really good rugby brain. He has added a lot in that sense. I think he has brought out the best in Rob (du Preez). I think Rob is going really well. I think as much as George is adding I think guys who are playing at the moment are playing really well. Jonny (Hill) is again a high class player, he has added a lot. He is filling some big shoes in Lood (de Jager) so he is doing really well. Tom O’Flaherty has been unbelievable; he is a really hard worker, a great talker and has fitted in seamlessly, so has Joe Simpson and Jason Woodward. These guys have added a lot to the group. I think everyone has added in their own ways and most importantly have fit in to the group off the field which is vitally important.
CHANGE IN DYNAMIC
“It has changed a hell of a lot since I arrived. There has been a clear increase in the quality of player from my early days at Sale. I think that has probably gone hand in hand with the investment from the owners. It’s all part of the growing process. Had Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager, Rohan Janse van Rensburg stayed this year would we be where we are maybe we would be. It’s not just necessarily personnel; it’s the team evolving, the coaches. Clearly something has clicked. I think a lot of young guys are coming through which has been vitally key for us and they are really performing well. As I said maybe that would have happened anyway, you don’t really know. But the team has changed a lot. In the past we have relied a lot on passion and getting ourselves up week on week whereas now we are probably a bit more calculated. We have a plan of what we are doing and we are able to execute that plan which is probably the big change.”
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ALEX SANDERSON AND STEVE DIAMOND
“I think they are different in a number of ways but they are quite similar in other ways. I think Alex is bigger on the mental side of the game whereas Dimes was less so with that. Dimes was really good for the club, served the club for a hell of a long time and especially for myself was really good to me over the years I was here. They are obviously different but similar in a lot of ways. Al is starting to put his stamp on the group with the type of player he wants, there has clearly been a different direction he wanted to go in terms of recruitment and it seems to be working really well.”
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DU PREEZ TWINS RESIGNING
“I think it is absolutely massive. I am not privy to the information on what other offers they had on the table but I’m pretty sure there were big offers from all over the world, whether that be from South Africa, Japan, France. It wouldn’t surprise me because they are absolute beasts, they are of immense quality. In this environment in the Premiership where there is a reduced salary cap where clearly clubs are struggling to pay what these other clubs are able to pay it is a huge statement from the club. Speaking to them they are not only enjoying the rugby, they are enjoying life off the pitch and the environment at the club which is clear. They have signed for 4 years so it is a huge statement for the club to keep that calibre of player who are clearly being chased by some of the biggest clubs in the world. Hopefully it shows other players that this is a good place to be and we can continue to recruit that sort of calibre of player.
STRENGTH OF THE CULTURE BUILT AT SALE
“Steve Diamond had has imprint on what is going on, but I think a lot has changed since Dimes has left. I think it is probably a bit more of an open environment. We have seen a lot of youngsters coming through, they have a lot more say and probably feel a lot more comfortable in the environment. A lot of the squad was brought in by Steve; myself, Faf de Klerk, the du Preez’s. This year and last year Alex Sanderson has put his stamp on the players he wanted to bring in and for the moment it’s working. It’s a very nice environment to be a part of; it’s comfortable, open, everyone has their say and place and it’s certainly an environment that I definitely enjoy and I know a lot of the guys do as well.”
WHAT JONO’S FUTURE HOLDS
“I have got this year and next year on my contract, and I think it would be silly of me to look any further than that really. You look at the situation at Worcester and Wasps and there are a lot of players without a job so it would be silly of me to plan further than that. This is now my 6th year here, I have been overseas for 5-10 years now so I have a lot of things I need to consider as well. If the opportunity was there to stay yes that is definitely an option; we love Sale, we love Manchester, it’s become a home away from home, my daughter was born here and my wife is very comfortable here. I’m here until the end of next season and then it is up to the club and we see where we are. If there is an option to stay that is something that I would definitely consider. If not then I have got to see where I am at; do I continue playing, do I go home? There is a lot to consider, but at the moment I am very happy, motivated. There is a lot of competition within the backrow, I still feel I can mix it with them.”
PREPARATION FOR THE QUINS GAME
“Quins are a quality team, they have got a lot stardust across the park with Marcus Smith at the helm who dictates the way they want to play. They can make things happen out of nothing and they are a team you can never write off. Against Exeter they were 30 points behind and came back and could have easily won the game. They have done it time and time again. Not only are you talking about a team that has finished in the top 4 the last couple of years it is a team that won the Premiership a couple of seasons ago so this is a quality outfit and we are under no illusions on the magnitude of the challenge we face this weekend.
IMPORTANCE OF FILLING OUT THE AJ BELL STADIUM
“Firstly fair play to Simon. I don’t think many owners of any club have taken that approach and actively replies to people on social media. The utmost respect to Simon. I don’t think it is just financial, Simon would like more people engaged in the game and more people supporting Sale. Obviously that has financial benefits but fair play to Simon. I hope people see that it comes from a genuine place because Simon is a great guy and I hope we can fill the stadium because not only does it have a good impact on the club, but for us as players to have a full stadium it is unbelievable as our fans are very passionate. Simon is probably the only owner who is willing to put himself out there, probably to some criticism. But he is trying to get feedback off the fans so we can try our best to get the stadium full.
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