Sale Sharks will look to rectify their narrow defeat last weekend with a victory over Bristol Bears this Friday night, confident they can do so in the knowledge they are still unbeaten at home this season.
It will be the last home Premiership game at the AJ Bell Stadium in an important month for the season ambitions of the club.
And Sale’s director of rugby Alex Sanderson understands just how vital it is to secure a statement win.
He said: “It is pivotal to set us up for the business end of the season, so we have had a great deal of reflection on this weekend.
“Let’s make a statement and build for the important end to the season. Let’s embrace this next month and make it the best month.
“F*** dry, January; let’s have a wet one. We are off to South Africa, off to the winter sun. Four games and we are hosting the European Champions in our own patch; it is a big month.”
But the old cliché goes that the most important fixture is always the next one.
And Sanderson is aware that Bristol will promise a difficult encounter as they look to kickstart their inconsistent season.
He said: “They are an incredibly dangerous team. You can see that, beaten the most defenders, made the most offloads in terms of attack. They haven’t converted all of that, but they have some very good strike runners with an x-factor.
“They have had a varying plan of strategy in terms of where and how they get to certain field positions. Start of the season they kicked the most metres. There is a definite shift again after our previous game from one of kicking to one of running, back to their more traditional game, and they have had some better results as a consequence.
“So, it is difficult to peg them for how they will approach the game.
“Certainly, the results have not all gone their way and the performances; certainly, at some point like ourselves, they would like to hit a vein of form like ourselves; they will hit it; we just hope it won’t be on Friday.”
However, Sale will be pleased that knocks to Ernst Van Rhyn and Cobus Wiese in their loss to the Northampton Saints have not ruled them out of selection for the Bears game.
There will be no return of any players that were unavailable for the last game, but one player that is returning to the AJ Bell this Friday is AJ MacGinty.
The former Sale fly-half enjoyed six years at the club before joining Bristol, and Sanderson is sure he will be warmly received this Friday.
He said: “He offers different things in attack with some of his attacking kicks. He is really strong defensively, but he is another leader for them, and he is also a leader for them.
“So, whether he starts or comes off the bench, you can expect them to be stronger with AJ McGinty in the side. But we will welcome him back warmly with a few extra hits, I’m sure.”
But the replacement that Sale brought in for the American has proved to be a fine acquisition.
George Ford has brought his international quality to the club, and Sanderson believes he is indispensable to Sharks.
He said: “George’s form has been consistently high; he is one of those players whose worst game and his best game see very little difference. That is what makes him such a quality professional and an asset to your club.
“He is the best in the game at tactical kicking.
“He still has elements of his game he wants to improve, and we are working on that at the club.”
Improvement is always required within any club, and Sale are no different as clubs enter the period of the season when many players decide their destination for next season.
And Sanderson discussed the importance of retaining much of their squad while replacing talents that may leave the club with players who are just as good or better.
He said: “For us, retention is the key thing, but that brings its own difficulties, but you still have to add to your core group by way of an x-factor who can improve the squad.
“I think we will have all the negotiations, if not signed off, certainly in the process of being signed off by the end of the month before the break.
“Always looking to strengthen the gene pool, Charlie Ewels is a great player, so he is someone we are interested in, amongst others.
“Yet there are not a lot like Cobius Wiese, but there are a few, and I’ve got to keep my powder dry of who we are looking at.
“It is just a scenario that we are familiar with and not an uncommon one with us, unfortunately. It seems to be common for a lot of our South Africans that have not made Manchester their second home.” However, the club’s attention is firmly on Sale returning to the top of the Premiership this Friday against Bristol, even if it may just be momentary before the other fixtures this weekend.
