
The Sharks confirmed their place in the play-offs in the last round when, with the Curry brothers in full swing, they overwhelmed Bristol at Ashton Gate, and they finish the regular season at home to Newcastle next month.
“I was too emotional at this point two years ago,” said Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby. “It probably came too early for me. It is very hard to get into the play-offs and we want to do justice to the effort we have put in for the last nine months.
“We are not taking anything for granted and it is just about understanding how we can continue to get better. There have been some honest conversations around the place and some of our most intense training sessions in the last couple of weeks.”
This story is from the April 23, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In


This story is from the April 23, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In

Newcastle can't live with Bath late show
GREAT rugby teams know how to win even when they aren't firing on all cylinders, and league leaders Bath highlighted their quality with a late comeback to keep their hopes of a domestic double alive on Friday night.

Larkham delight as Brumbies rule
BRUMBIES coach Stephen Larkham had a tear in his eye at full-time and compared his side's victory at the Blues on Friday to being as rare as playing the British & Irish Lions.

Falcons flyer on the crest of a wave
ELLIOTT Obatoyinbo is hoping he can ride the crest of Newcastle's wave and return to the sort of form that he showed when he first arrived on Tyneside two-and-a-half years ago.

Stade are willing to fight for Gustard
STADE Francais' billionaire owner hinted last week that head coach Paul Gustard's reported move to Leicester may not be quite as cut-and-dried as sections of the British press have suggested.

Freeman deserves run on centre stage
THE England midfield has been a mishmash of failed partnerships, wishful thinking, hap-hazard revolving-door selection, injury disruption, and endless frustration for followers of the Red Rose for the best part of 20 years.

We must pull together to grow game - Baxter
ROB Baxter believes that the responsibility for growing rugby both financially and in terms of interest falls on the entire game, not just individual clubs.

We need to play for the full 80, says Daly
ELLIOT Daly has urged England to put their foot on Italian throats today and keep it there in finally delivering a Six Nations statement performance at Twickenham.

Scotland survive spirited Wales revival
SCOTLAND - so accomplished for the first 50 minutes but so miserably poor for the final half hourmade heavy weather of beating a Wales team that refused to go quietly.

Robinson praise for cross-league rivalry
ANDY Robinson has spoken about the positive experience of playing Championship clubs in what looks set to be the final season of crossleague rivalry.

Tykes get revenge as Lymm crushed
TABLE-toppers Leeds Tykes cemented their position at the summit of National Two North with a crushing victory over Lymm at The Sycamores.