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SharkS v bearS Sat 4 Jun • KO: 3pm • AJ Bell Stadium
VS
Last time we met: Fri 15 April • Ashton Gate
29-35 W L d Historic stats vs Bristol: WINS
LOSSES
DRAWS
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Officials: Ref: Adam Leal Assistant Ref’s: Nick Wood & Wayne Falla TMO: Hamish Smales 5
SanderS SaYS R o D N O S R E D N A S X E AL
It’s been a season with peaks and troughs. Overall, it probably hasn’t gone as well as I hoped from where we were last summer. But then the back end of the season has been better than what I would have expected because at Christmas we were out of the running. Out of some of the disappointments, we’ve had some great successes and learned a lot more about ourselves as a club and as individuals. It’s the adversity that helps you to grow and we’ve faced a fair bit of that this season. I think I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve been humbled in terms
of my own hubris. Because of how we started last season I probably thought we were further along the path than we were. There was learning there. The remit of evolution that I was asked to come in and oversee has ended up being more about revolution. But I think we’re better for it.
A part of that revolution is players leaving and this summer we say goodbye to some brilliant people. What the club means to the lads who are leaving was evident in the last ten minutes of the Wasps game because for them, there was nothing to play for. They were just playing for their mates.
this season. The high point of the season would be the game at home against Leicester, in front of a full house. To come from behind like that, in front of all of our fans was brilliant. I think that was a turning point for us.
As I said, we’ve had highs and lows
Al
The low point is probably the second half against Racing in It showed what the club, the players Europe. The nature of how it and the coaches mean to those lads happened, going off script like and that’s the most rewarding thing. that, was disappointing because It matters more than just the result. I felt like we should have learned from last year. I’m happy with It was testament to the type of how we’ve addressed it but I people they are. Some of them are think there was a better 80 min legends of rugby who have won it all performance in us. on the field – they’ve won World Cups – but they’re all legends off the field The support we’ve had this ands there’s not one of them who I season has been brilliant. It’s wouldn’t go for a beer with. always energetic and loud and you support the lads through All of them leave with our blessing thick and thin. I’m so grateful and because I want them to do well in humbled by the support. I’d like their lives and their careers in the to think you’re encouraged and future. These are lads who I want to excited about where we’re going have a continued relationship with and what we’re building and by beyond their time here. this group of young talent that we’re looking to keep together I’ll miss Rohan’s coffees and the for years because that’s how you energy that Faf brings around the build legacies. place. He lifts the room. If you think it’s all about the hair and the smiles then We’ve started a new journey and you’re mistaken. There’s so much grit as good as it’s been so far, I feel the and determination in the man. best is still to come. 7
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hOMe iS Where the Shark iS
E C N A D T S A L E TH 9
Captain’S CaLL S S O R
JONO
Jono Ross will miss the season finale against Bristol after undergoing an operation on a dislocated toe. But Sharks’ inspirational skipper couldn’t let the season end without saying a heartfelt thank you to the Sharks Family for their support. And despite this campaign not hitting the heights of last season, the 30-year-old says there’s plenty to look forward to. We started off really slowly, missing a few guys after the Lions tour,” he said.
“But I think we came back really nicely towards the end of the season and put a good run together in Europe to reach the quarter-final. We wanted to push on from last year and make top four again and fight for the title. That didn’t happen but there are loads of positives to take. “We’ve had some fantastic moments and the highlight of the season for me was the win at home to Leicester. Being that far down at half time against a top team and then coming back showed how good we can be. It was pretty special. “The two-legged game against
Bristol was really special too. To lose at home and then to go away and win in the way that we did, with 14 men and to get through to the quarter-final was fantastic. “It’s been a big year for some of the young players too. Guys like Bevan, Raffi, Roebuck, Reedy have really stepped up and cemented themselves in the team and I think getting to another Champions Cup quarterfinal is another massive positive for the group and the club. The challenge now is to learn from that and use the experience to improve and it would be great for us get to the latter stages again and go even further next season. “We know this group is going to change a lot and being able to share and enjoy this time with some brilliant people has been fantastic. It’s always sad to see people leave, especially people you’ve grown really close to over a long period of time. It’s never nice but that’s sport - guys come and go. “Some of the meetings we’ve had
IT’S EXCITING, NOT JUST FOR THE NEW PLAYERS, BUT FOR THE YOUNG LADS TOO. THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP UP AND FILL THE SHOES OF THE GUYS WHO ARE LEAVING. where we looked back at some of their highlight reels have been unbelievable. To see what they’ve done and how much they have contributed in the years they’ve been here has been amazing. They’re really good players but more importantly, they’re good people. “But by all accounts, we’re getting some brilliant people in too. George Ford, Tom O’Flaherty and Jonny Hill are really exciting additions and they’re coming from really good, winning environments. “It’s exciting, not just for the new players, but for the young lads too. They have the opportunity to step up and fill the shoes of the guys who are leaving. I can remember
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when I was a young player, all I wanted was a chance to show what I could do. This is that chance for the young players and they need to be ready to make the most of it. “Lastly, I want to say a big thank you to you, our fans, because you have been with us all season. Home and away, wherever we go you’re there and all the lads really do appreciate it. I know it’s been a tough couple of years with Covid but we take so much from
our Sharks Family. Please keep coming, keep giving us everything you’ve got, and I promise we’ll give everything we have. “From all the lads and from everyone at the club, thank you.”
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It’s a very exciting but bittersweet welcome for a final time this season to the AJ Bell Stadium. The truth is it feels like a long time since we were here last, over a month since the Newcastle game with a huge European quarter final and a characterful win away at Wasps since then. The Racing game was a tense and high quality affair with Sale showing our physicality and tenacity against a side stacked with internationals, and there’s no doubt that we can be proud of our showing in that game. We’ve since managed to calm down about French TV directors and their editorial choices (although
please don’t bring it up if you see us) to the extent we can be realistic that perhaps the final result was a fair one. At half time we seriously thought a semi-final was on the cards, and indeed it was, our intensity unmatched by Racing. Unfortunately in that second half the experience at the top level of European competition really showed. That said we know on that performance we’ll be back stronger in future years. Moving onwards, we then went down to Coventry and put in a huge performance against a very strong Wasps side to come away with a win and secure our European place for next season. It was certainly a game for the purists (also known as a rubbish game, but we’ve got a podcast to promote), but nevertheless an
incredibly important result and with individual highlights that give us encouragement for the seasons ahead. Rob’s kicking not least – nailing them from everywhere! And so, we come to the final match, where the various outcomes of the season have left today’s focus pretty much solely on saying farewell to a number of departing superstars and clubmen, which we’ll do with aplomb. There is of course a league position to play for but aside from that we say goodbye to (in no particular order) Cam, Faf, Lood, Rohan, Hammers, AJ, Curtis, James Phillips and JPDP – in addition to Denny who is flourishing down in Dunedin. All have contributed to the club hugely both on the field and off the field and we’re sure it will be an emotional occasion today to thank them and show our appreciation. After a semi-final last season our expectations have rollercoastered in the last nine months from winning the league to flirting with the European Challenge Cup at various points during a hectic campaign. But as always, the one thing you can never say about supporting Sale is that it’s dull. We’ll hope for entertainment, high quality and excitement from today’s game, supported by a
great atmosphere from the Sharks Family, and we cannot wait to be back in September with our new signings, academy graduates and current squad ready to go again for the Premiership title we know is within our grasp. Enjoy the game, have a great summer and come on you Sharks! Enjoy the game!
Alex, James & Lewis
To listen to the podcast:
CLiCk here 17
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Y A D H C T A M
MaSCOtS Name: Benjamin Age: 7 Favourite Player: Faf De Klerk Favourite Subject: Maths Favourite Food: Sweets Favourite T.V. Show: Pacman Hobbies: Hotwheel Cars
N I M A J N BE Name: Samson Age: 5 Favourite Player: Will Cliff Favourite Subject: Forest School Favourite Food: Anything Favourite T.V. Show: Shark boy & Lava girl Hobbies: Colouring & DIY
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Our sizable second-rower, Matt Postlethwaite helped prepare students at Broadfield Specialist School for their first ever tag rugby tournament. Sharks Community Trust, together with Sale Sharks player Matt Postlethwaite, delivered tag and wheelchair rugby sessions at Broadfield Specialist School yesterday.
Matt said: “I was really impressed with the tag rugby team’s ability, especially considering they hadn’t played much before. They had really good core skills and everyone gave 100%.
The day began with a structured tag rugby session in preparation for the school’s first ever tournament at Flyde RUFC. Matt then helped deliver two wheelchair rugby sessions.
“I was just as impressed with the two wheelchair groups – as soon as they got in the chairs they shot off and there was no stopping them.
“It was amazing to see so many kids get involved in wheelchair rugby and, more importantly, they all seemed to love it.” The Lancashire-based school, which is a provision for students with generic learning difficulties aged 11-19, teaches 171 students and provides a sensory curriculum for students with more complex needs. Teacher Stephen Mills said: “It was amazing to have such professionals visiting our school. The tag rugby session was great practice and the students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. “The main aim of the wheelchair tag rugby was enjoyment; however, it also created a real sense of inclusion for all our students, with both wheelchair and non-wheelchair users able to get involved equally. “The whole morning was amazing. It was great to meet Matt and the Community Trust coaches, and to create a positive link with Sale Sharks. Hopefully we will see them again soon!”
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