Sale Sharks return to Premiership action at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday night to do battle with Gloucester after two testing games on the road.
Sharks’ director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, believes that his side can move on from their humiliating 43-0 defeat last weekend at the hands of a rampant Exeter Chiefs.
He said: “I expect a bit of a reaction on the back of last weekend, and we’ll come with a point to prove.
“Taking the lessons from what was a poor performance, what I think is a one-off performance.”
Yet, Sanderson was impressed by the maturity and analytical reflection of his squad as their unbeaten start came to an end at Sandy Park.
He added: “Captain for the game, Rob Du Preez, grabbed them in. He said, ‘It is not on them (coaches), it is on us, we are the ones stepping out there.’ They took ownership for their part straight away.
“We are in it together; we win and lose. Good or bad performance, it’s all part of it.”
Sale will be buoyant in the build-up to the game due to the conclusion of the World Cup in France as their five international players return for club duty.
Sanderson added: “We’ve got three back in, but I’m not going to say who.
“Your want and desire might be to go right; we’ve got them back. Let’s play them all, but you could lose what you have tried to build up. An intentional re-integration of your internationals is important so you don’t put your nose out of joint, but it will increase competition.”
Gloucester travel to Salford this weekend with the incentive of a better performance following the end of their unbeaten start following a 24-3 defeat to a resurgent Saracens.
Featured image: Brendan McGilligan
