Sanderson: ‘Get used to this place’

Sale Sharks ultimately came up short in the Gallagher Premiership Final, losing out 35-25 to Saracens.

Sale’s Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson, although he was disappointed, had a clear message for his young side.

He said when asked what he would tell his squad after the game: “Tell them to get used to this place.

“I think there’s definitely still a few conversations about a feeling that we’ll be here again.”

Sale were leading the enthralling final 25-23 at the hour mark, but two late tries by the now six-time champions Saracens, ended Sale’s hopes.

Sanderson believes the experience Sarries possess, with the likes of Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje helped them over the line.

He said: “The odd fairy tale does happen, but rarely in my experience.

“You’ve just got to be better at handling moments like the ones that occur today and that takes experience.

“That’s what we’ve got today.

“That’s what we’ll build on this season.

“We’ll just get better.

“We’re a young side, for the most part, we’ve got a few old heads in there, but generally a young demographic who have found their feet in the big games.

“I’m sure after the crushing feeling I have right now of missed opportunity, the under underlying emotion will be of pride and excitement for what we can build on.”

Sale have had a season to remember, flying the flag for northern rugby with some outstanding results and with their final 15 having an average age of 27.2, it is clear they will be back sooner rather than later.

Sanderson looked back at the time they were in the Sarries 22 with a two point lead with regret after the game.

“You can never rule a side like Saracens out, but certainly at that point, the momentum of the game was in our favour,” he said.

“We’d been finishing strong in the last four games that we’ve played.

“So, I thought at that point in time, if we held our nerve and were clinical enough we could win the game.

“We gave ourselves a brilliant chance to do that.

“They showed the metal, they did it well and they took the opportunities where we didn’t at times.”

The former forward believes the set-piece, the lineout in particular was a part of the game they lost.

He said: “There was a couple of line outs that we lost in the last quarter, like crucial line outs that probably had a 14 point swing in the game or a 10 point swing.

“One on the half way line where they got the charge down for the try and one five meters out from their line, which with the pressure that we had at that point in time, I felt like we would’ve got over if we turned that one over.

“So if I was to put it on anything, it’s difficult to because there’s a million moments that make a difference.”

Saracens have a side who have been there and done it, being six-time champions with many of the side who won in 2019 still there.

Sanderson who used to be a coach at the London club believes this chemistry they have built up over the years proved the difference at Twickenham.

“I think cohesion is one of the biggest factors, proven over years to have the biggest influence on championship winning teams, that’s proven,” he said.

“That’s what they have through time spent.

“That’s where we are going to get a better.

“Was it pivotal today, coming back to the point? I think it was.

“We have to execute it, but I think those, what Jono was talking about, what I already mentioned were the moments.

“Obviously it gives someone like Owen (Farrell) the platform to finish you off on, but it starts at set piece doesn’t it?”

There was a long TMO review for Saracens final try scored by Ivan Van Zyl, with the grounding hard to see after many replays, but Sanderson stated he didn’t have any problem with how the game was refereed.

He said: “I thought the game was refereed really well, got no complaints in terms of the end result.

“I think we had the opportunities, we gave ourselves a chance and it’s as much to Saracen’s credit, but our own fault as to why we didn’t finish that game off, not the referees.”

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