Sale Sharks host league leaders Leicester Tigers in round 14 of the Gallagher Premiership on Sunday (KO 3pm, LIVE on ITV and BT Sport 1)
Alex Sanderson wants to make a statement of intent against Leicester Tigers this Sunday as #YourSharks look to get their Gallagher Premiership season back on track.
Speaking to the media this week, the Sharks DoR said: “Leicester have battered the last three teams they’ve played in the scrum and won penalties at will, so there’s a need for a maul brawl and a scrum scrap this weekend.
“They’re a side that’s mauled 34 of their last 40 lineouts, so we don’t get that right and they’re going to kick for territory, get a penalty, and just play that. We need to get our defensive maul right.
“If we get parity at the set piece, what we do in all those little battles on the back of every kick over the course of 80-minutes will probably determine the outcome of the game.”
After an impressive 16-game winning streak, league leaders Tigers were handed their first defeat of the season by Wasps earlier this month, three second-half penalties completing a nerveless comeback from the Coventry side. Sharks last win in the Premiership came against Wasps on New Years Day.
Alex said: “Leicester is a huge one – not just in terms of performance, but for a statement of intent for the second half of the season.
“We’re fully aware that we have to win every week. Provided we keep our lads fit, we have the talent to be able to do that if we keep performing.
“We won eight games on the bounce last year, so we know we’ve got it in us, and then it becomes about the belief.”
Sharks have lost to Tigers twice this season, both times at Welford Road, in the Premiership in October and in the Premiership Rugby Cup in November, however, Tigers have lost five of their last six visits to the AJ Bell.
Sharks v Tigers will be the first fixture featured in Premiership Rugby’s newly announced broadcast partnership with ITV.
Alex said: “It’s great to have ITV on board. The more people we can reach, the more exposure, the better.”
Previous results:
13 Nov 2021 – Leicester Tigers 32 Sale Sharks 23
23 Oct 2021 – Leicester Tigers 19 Sale Sharks 11
7 May 2021 – Sale Sharks 26 Leicester Tigers 10
29 Jan 2021 – Leicester Tigers 15 Sale Sharks 25
5 Sep 2020 – Leicester Tigers 31 Sale Sharks 40
