It was a very intriguing and engaging media session with Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson this afternoon (2nd March 2022). Sanderson spoke on a wide range of topics including Rob du Preez’s run in the side at 13, his view on Manu Tuilagi’s latest injury, the latest on the injury front and how the squad might look next season. Here are the talking points from the media session:
ROB DU PREEZ- THE LOTTERY TICKET
“Rob has had a re-birth of his career and he is loving it” is what Alex Sanderson glowingly declared about Rob du Preez’s recent switch from fly-half to outside centre. In recent months du Preez has exclusively been playing at 13 instead of his customary position of 10. His switch to 13 was “brought about by some inconsistencies at 10 and poor communication on my part with him” according to Sanderson, who admitted that he had some honest conversation with Rob about his form and where he was going. The statement signing of George Ford was a “catalyst for change” and having spoken to England Head Coach Eddie Jones, who knows du Preez from his days in South Africa, about how to best utilise the 10-12-13 axis, he decided that Rob’s skill-set might be well-suited to outside centre. Sanderson described Rob as a “lottery ticket” and a “world-class centre”, saying that “a lot of his attributes are perhaps more attuned to being a 13 than a 10”. Du Preez is signed on for another 3 years and Sanderson said that his run at 13 would continue into next season so long as he continues to train and play well. Sanderson was also keen to point out the quality of Sam James at both 13 and 15.
MANU’S LATEST INJURY
After Manu Tuilagi suffered a minor hamstring strain last week in the build-up to England’s game against Wales, Sanderson admitted he was “gutted for Manu” and he just “wants him to play for England like we all do”. It is the smallest of strains and Tuilagi should be back in a week or two. Sanderson said that “perhaps it was a little bit too far too soon”, suggesting that Tuilagi is unlikely to be fit for England’s game against Ireland in 10 days time but could be back in contention for England’s final Six Nations game against France. A catch-up post-Six Nations is planned between Sale and England in order to figure how Tuilagi can be managed better and to analyse his individual load management. Sanderson admitted that he is frustrated that Tuilagi is not playing, but said that they are on the same page as England and there is no blame game being played.
INJURY LATEST
Sanderson revealed that there are a number of players closing in on a return to fitness in the coming weeks as we approach the business end of the season. Sale will be boosted by the returns to fitness of both fullback Luke James and hooker Ewan Ashman ahead of the trip to Exeter with both players available for selection. Hooker Akker van der Merwe has been doing set-piece work this week but is still 3 to 4 weeks away from action as he needs to build up his match fitness. Lock Josh Beaumont could be set for a return to fitness in the next 2 or 3 weeks having missed the whole season so far due to injury. Young tighthead prop James Harper is set to return from injury in around 4 weeks in a major boost to the tighthead options.
SQUAD SHAPE-UP
Sanderson admitted that although there is still some tinkering to be done, he is pretty certain of what the squad is going to look like for the next 3 years. He even declared that he has dreamt of what the squad will look like in 6 or 7 years time with the plethora of young players coming through and already part of the first-team squad. The salary cap restrictions will lead to a smaller squad for next season which will be the same across the Premiership. In terms of further arrivals and departures, Sanderson indicated it would be “1 in, 3 out” which is “entirely down to the salary cap”, adding “If we could keep them all I would”. There is no further update on Faf de Klerk as of yet. Sanderson also revealed that James Phillips has had to retire from rugby due to a head injury suffered in a pre-season game last year.
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