Sales Sharks: Blip or decline after season of contention for love club?

As a campaign facility that went badly astray, injuries played a key role.

The England core of sales has spent a significant stretch on nearly all treatment tables and is unavailable for selection.

Back-row twins Tom and Ben Currie, winger Tom Roebuck, Asher Opoku-Fjordjor and, in recent weeks, fellow front-rowers Bevan Rodd and Luke Cowan-Dickie, have all missed large chunks of work.

This has had an impact on the coaching front as well. Marco Bortolami quit as head coach in December after just six months at the club, while defense coach Byron McGuigan began job-sharing with England in October before leaving Sale in March.

Sanderson said he was tested in a way he hadn’t experienced before, but with the support of owner Simon Orange, he had a real conviction that things would turn around.

“In tough times, in adversity, you’ll see who stands up to the leaders,” Sanderson said.

“The young guys have to step up, which they did, and you realize who’s in your corner and for what reason.

“For all these things, I’m really grateful, for learning the lessons the hard way and I’m very positive about the future.”

Sale have bolstered their squad for next season by signing England internationals Courtney Lawes, Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski, along with Wales front-row duo Nicky Smith and Thomas Francis to add experience and ease the pressure on the club’s promising domestic players.