At Sale’s training ground on Tuesday, Christmas cheer was put to one side as club owners Simon and Michelle Orange joined the Sharks’ players and coaches for a no-holds-barred team meeting.
It came on the back of a heavy defeat by Northampton, and all parties were given the chance to have their say. It has been a frustrating month for Alex Sanderson and Co, a superb and rare European victory on French soil at Clermont Auvergne the lone bright spot alongside three losses.
The only thing consistent about Sale in the first half of the season has been their inconsistency. They host Harlequins for a Boxing Day clash of two teams who have both been less than the sum of their parts so far this term, each winning just two of their seven PREM games.
Sharks director of rugby Sanderson and his squad have been open in their assessment that for a team hopeful of winning the title, it’s not been good enough.
‘There was an honesty meeting – not a crisis meeting – but an honesty one about the kind of team we want to be,’ Sanderson said. ‘It’s not an inconsistent one. It’s not a one week on, one week off team. We spoke about our families and kids watching and what matters. Does losing hurt enough? There were real deep questions around that.
‘As a coaching group, I do think we’re accountable. But there’s also individual accountability for mentality and consistency of performance. That’s what we’ve identified. Good teams perform in back-to-back games and are extremely consistent with their performances.
The only thing consistent about Sale in the first half of the season has been their inconsistency
A superb and rare win on French soil against Clermont was a rare bright spot in recent weeks
Northampton Saints steamrollered Sale last weekend, running out 47-21 winners
‘Good players don’t get tired. They dig in when other people bail out. Inconsistent teams don’t reach semi-finals or finals.’
Sale aren’t on the rocks just yet. But for a team that has become used to challenging for the top four, they haven’t hit their usual heights. It is surely no coincidence that Sale have been up and down at a time when their England No 10 George Ford has been on the sidelines with a groin strain.
Ford hasn’t played since the 27-26 defeat by Exeter at the end of November, but is back to start against Harlequins alongside a host of other key players which include England prop Bevan Rodd. It is a significant boost for Sanderson.
Owners Simon and Michelle Orange reassured Sale’s players their commitment remains absolute despite the club’s £8.14million loss in their latest accounts. Over the last two years, Sale has made an operating loss of circa £15m.
Sanderson described the Oranges as ‘so invested’ and added: ‘There has been stuff in the press around how much money the club is spending and losing and there are reasons for that. But they came in to say it isn’t going to stop. They’re supporting the players financially and will continue to do that forever.
‘The understanding is that if they’re financially supporting the club, then the minimum they ask for is a performance based around effort. That’s sunk in on the lads, seeing how invested the owners are. Michelle works here (at the Carrington training ground) on some days because she loves the environment. She wants to contribute in a positive way. Simon foots the bill as well.
‘So, for them to come in and show that kind of solidarity and to tell the players that nothing’s going away in terms of support is quite a powerful thing. That gives you some insight into the type of meeting it was.
‘It was a bit aggressive because clearly this is not what we want to be. But it was more coming from the players on each rather than us as coaches.’
George Ford will return from injury to face Harlequins on Boxing Day in a much-needed lift
Simon Orange, who owns the club with wife Michelle, has committed to investing in Sale despite their recent financial losses
It’s getting to a critical stage for Sale to be able to turn their season around before it’s too late
With Ford back to guide things from fly-half, Sale should be much improved. Ford will do battle with his England playmaker rival Marcus Smith, who is playing for a team with plenty of problems of their own.
In their showpiece ‘Big Game’ fixture at Twickenham before Christmas, they capitulated to be hammered 40-14 by Bristol. As good as the Bears were that day, Harlequins were equally as bad.
The Londoners are still without injured England prop Fin Baxter, who was a late withdrawal from the Bristol game. England international and No 8 Alex Dombrandt is back and among the replacements, but Chandler Cunningham-South continues to start at the base of the scrum.
‘I don’t think it’s do-or-die at this point,’ said Sanderson. ‘But we’ve called it and said if we want to get to a semi-final, we’ve got to win every home game and pick up a few away as well.’
