Alex Sanderson: We need to get our bite back

By Paul Rees

MATCH PREVIEW

Sale v Leicester

Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, AJ Bell Stadium

Alex Sanderson expects Sale to bear their teeth against resurgent Leicester at the AJ Bell Stadium after heavy defeats on the road in the last two rounds.

The Sharks were more like porpoises at Bath last time out, conceding six tries in a 40-13 defeat having been hit for 47 by Northampton the week before.

Leicester have lost just one Premiership match since Michael Cheika took over as director of rugby but are unbeaten on the road where Exeter and Saracens have been among their victims.

Sale have not lost at home in the league since the start of the year.

Leicester’s Threat

“They have their bite back,” said Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby.

“They have the best defence currently, win the most penalties in the scrum, they get back the most balls in the air and score the most tries from a maul. Cheika has given them intent.

“We were a bit toothless against Bath. It is up to us to get our bite back.”

Sale reacted to the defeat at Bath, when their defence was broken far too easily, by making a change to the coaching team.

Defence coach Jamie Langley has joined Leeds Rhinos and has been replaced by Byron McGuigan, who ended his playing career last year at Sale and was immediately added to the coaching staff.

“It was clear after Bath that we had to fix the defence,” said Sanderson.

“We had to find a solution and that was driven by a change of personnel. It was a mutual decision because of the results we had suffered.

“In professional sport you have to provide performances and outcomes that are progressively improving. We were fortunate to have a defence coach of Byron’s quality in house.”

Sale’s England Contingent

Sale are fortified today by their returning England contingent.

Tom Roebuck, George Ford, Luke Cow-an-Dickie, new cap Asher Opoku-Fordjour and the Curry twins all start along with Scotland wing Arron Reed. Prop Bevan Rodd makes his first league appearance since the victory over Harlequins in the opening round.

“The mini-break allowed us to look at things and the Premiership Cup was positive for us,” said Sanderson.

“It gave us the chance to change how we have been working off the field and at the top of the list was tackle dominance.

“We have been among the top clubs in that area for five years but now we are sixth or seventh and we have to get back to where we were. That means putting intent back into our power game.”

Luke Cowan-Dickie

Sanderson is in talks with Cowan-Dickie, who came off the bench for the final three of England’s internationals last month, over a new contract.

“I wanted him to get back into the England side first and play well,” said Sanderson. “It was great to see how strong he looked and he has my total respect for how he got back to that level after what he went through.

“Nothing has been signed, but we believe we are getting there. He will get offered more in France and it comes down to what is enough for him to stay here. We are there or thereabouts.”

Tom Curry and Ford will also be out of contract in the summer but are among the 17 players who have signed contracts with England.

“It makes it easier with England showing an interest in them in the long term,” said Sanderson. “They know they are in the plans for the next World Cup and they need to stay in England to be involved in it.

“It does not decrease what they are paid by the club because the contracts have replaced appearance fees. It ties them to staying in England when they could go for twice as much abroad.”

Strong: Sale hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and, inset, director of rugby Alex Sanderson