Sale Sharks v Toulouse | Matchday Programme

CHEERS TO ALL FANS

WELCOME

A WARM WELCOME TO THIS ROUND 1/ROUND 2 MATCH IN THE 2022/23 HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP IN WHAT IS AN HISTORIC 28TH SEASON AS THE LEADING SOUTH AFRICAN CLUBS MAKE THEIR MARK IN OUR WORLDCLASS TOURNAMENT

The quality and tradition of the DHL Stormers, Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks will add a new layer of interest as the Heineken Champions Cup extends its global reach and attracts new fans.

For this groundbreaking season, the 24-club format with two pools of 12 has been retained. The four pool stage rounds will be followed by four knockout stage rounds guaranteeing a series of compelling contests which will culminate in the 2023 final at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 20 May. In addition, two clubs from each pool will qualify for the Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

We are delighted to be joined on the journey to Dublin by our long-standing title partner, Heineken, by our official partners, DHL, IHG and Tissot, by our official supporters, Gilbert and Kappa, and also by our official airline partner in South Africa, Qatar Airways.

BT Sport, beIN SPORTS and France Télévisions, who have all renewed their agreements for the new broadcast cycle, will continue to provide superb coverage, and we welcome SuperSport in South Africa, ITV and RTÉ in the UK and

Ireland, and FloRugby in the USA, who in addition to S4C in Wales, will showcase the tournament to even more viewers.

On a more sombre note, everyone at EPCR was deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of our former Chairman and Board member, Paul McNaughton. Paul was a hugely talented all-round sportsman in his heyday and more recently, he proved himself to be equally accomplished as an administrator. He will be sorely missed and we re-extend our condolences to his family and friends.

We hope that you enjoy the match and best wishes to you, the fans, as well as to your club’s players and staff for what promises to be another memorable Heineken Champions Cup season.

Yours in rugby, Dominic McKay EPCR CHAIRMAN

FROM EPCR

WELCOME

FROM HEINEKEN

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A VERY WARM WELCOME TO EVERYONE AS WE COMMENCE THE 2022/23 HEINEKEN® CHAMPIONS CUP.

Rugby in the UK is known for bringing people together to enjoy the incredible atmosphere and topclass sporting performances, and so it is with the memory of some truly unforgettable encounters that we excitedly mark the 27th year of our partnership with EPCR.

I would also like to commemorate another momentous anniversary, as this month Edinburgh Rugby celebrate 150 years of representative rugby and a proud sporting history. Cheers to them, and the very best of

luck today to all the players, officials and supporters of these fine teams.

We at Heineken® are immensely proud to be sponsor of Europe’s leading club rugby competition, a tournament that means so much to rugby fans across the UK and beyond. Enjoy the game today with a cold, refreshing Heineken® or Heineken® 0.0% and as always, please do so responsibly.

Boudewijn Haarsma MANAGING DIRECTOR HEINEKEN UK

ALEX SANDERSON

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY

A WORD FROM THE AXE

The challenge and the spectacle don’t get any bigger and I’m sure you’re all as excited as we are about today’s game. While recent results would tell you that we’re in really good shape, we know we’ve got to raise it again against a Toulouse side who can hurt you from anywhere, at any time.

This team is so unpredictable but so well coached too by Ugo Mola. They have a good set piece and they score most of their tries from the first three phases. There are very few teams in the Premiership with an ability to strike that fast and we’re going to have to be on our guard at the breakdown in particular.

We feel like we’ve learned some valuable lessons since we played Toulouse in France four weeks ago. It’s very much a case of ‘once bitten twice shy’. We know we can’t give them quick ball or get turned over as much as we did in the first game because they can strike so quickly. They are unbelievable opportunists and if you give them a sniff or a chance to build some momentum, then you’re in the tumble dryer.

You’re just chasing shadows and marvelling at their offloads.

They got us on a quick tap from a mark in that game and we weren’t alive to it. We are now.

We’re expecting another big crowd in today and that is really exciting. On behalf of everyone at the club, can I say thank you for your support once again. It’s a really good indication as to the health of the club and rugby more generally in the north west. Our game clashes with the Manchester derby in the Premier League so to get a big crowd in is a statement of where we are and where we’re going.

The lads are buzzing about it and actually, the science shows that they get a physical boost from playing at home in front of a big crowd. One of my mentors is the psychologist Bill Beswick and he gave me a book called ‘The Intangibles’. In that book it says that the neurological truth is that at home games your testosterone is raised by an average of 5%, and that’s seen in work-rate, aggression, drive.

So, if you’re wondering, are

WELCOME BACK TO ANOTHER PACKED-OUT AJ BELL STADIUM FOR ROUND THREE OF THE HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP.

the players going to put on a performance? They will and that is science fact, not just a feeling. They are well up for it, in front of a packed house, and they’re a little bit burned from what happened in Toulouse a few weeks ago.

I really believe that we’re creating something special here and we’ve got some brilliant people on and off the pitch. On that note, I want to give a shout to Claire and the rest of the commercial team. We know our performance on the pitch is a big factor in attracting people to come to the stadium, but so is their work that they’re all doing.

I have to finish with a word on Mike Forshaw, who will be leaving us after next week’s Ulster game to join up with the Wales squad ahead of the Six Nations.

There’s so much I’m going to miss about Forsh. I genuinely didn’t think that the trust and the atmosphere that we had in my previous role could be matched but I was very wrong. This coaching group is really, really special and Forsh has been at the epicentre of that.

When I was at Saracens, Forsh and I had a real rivalry because we were defence coaches of different organisations. What was very apparent over two or three years was that he was better than me.

As a rival coach I’d try and unpick some of the secrets and the systems that made Sale so good. But then when I was lucky enough to step into this role at this club, I realised within a matter of hours that it wasn’t down to systems or secrets, it was down to the man. It was down to Forsh.

He is such a special, unique character, and he has an incredible ability to inspire. He’s like Peter Pan, with his selfproclaimed Robert Redford looks and he brings so much levity to every week, win or lose.

This is very bittersweet for us because although we’re going to miss him, it shows that we’re getting it right here. This comes with the territory. And as much as it hurts, I know you’ll all join me in wishing Forsh all the best with his new role.

I know the lads want to put in two massive performances to send Forsh out on a high. That starts today.

Enjoy the game, Al

FAREWELL FORSH

The 53-year-old, who joined the club in 2013, will join up with Warren Gatland’s squad on January 23, after the pool stage of the Heineken Champions Cup. ‘Forsh’ lifted three Super League titles, three Challenge Cups and won 14 Great Britain caps during a 17-year rugby league career, punctuated only by a short spell at Saracens in the 90s.

He hung up his boots and began his coaching career at Warrington Wolves before moving to hometown club Wigan Warriors to work under his former boss at Bradford Bulls, Brian Noble. He switched codes to join the coaching staff at Connacht in 2010, before joining the team at Sale three years later.

This season, under Forsh’s guidance, Sharks have had the Premiership’s meanest defence, conceding just 26 tries.

“I’ll miss the owners, who I have a really good relationship with, and I’ll miss all the staff and players, because we have a really close-knit group here. The Sharks supporters have been incredible

with me too so I want to thank them for all their support.

“It’s sad that my time here is coming to an end and I’m really excited about the challenge ahead, but before that, all my focus is on the next two weeks and making sure we put in two big performances against Toulouse and Ulster.

“This is probably one of the only jobs that I would have left Sale for but I told the players that I’m leaving them in a really good place, and that’s all down to them and their hard work.

“I know that I’m leaving a club that’s going in the right direction. It’s a really special club and I’m excited to see what this group can achieve this season and beyond.”

Sharks defence coach Mike Forshaw has agreed a permanent deal to join the Wales coaching staff ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.

I’VE LOVED MY TEN YEARS AT SALE. IT’S A REALLY SPECIAL CLUB AND I’M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THIS GROUP CAN ACHIEVE THIS SEASON AND BEYOND.”

TOULOUSE

TUNNEL VISION

AHEAD OF KICK-OFF, WE’VE TAKEN A DETAILED LOOK AT OUR OPPONENTS TOULOUSE AND COMPILED ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED KNOW BEFORE WE TAKE ON THE FRENCH GIANTS ON HOME TURF.

HISTORY IN THE HCC

Toulouse are the most successful team in the history of the Champions Cup with five wins, including the very first year of the competition in 1996.

The club has also won a record 21 Boucliers de Brennus, the French domestic league trophy.

LAST SEASON

Toulouse finished seventh in Pool A in last season’s competition after they won just one of their four pool matches against Cardiff and saw two more cancelled.

They met Ulster in the round of 16, coming out on top by just one point over the two legs, before beating Munster on place kicks in the last eight. They eventually lost in the semi-final stage, going down 40-17 to Leinster.

HEAD COACH

Head coach Ugo Mola played for Toulouse between 1990 and 1996 and represented France 12 times, including in the 1999 World Cup Final.

After retiring as a player, he held coaching positions at Castres, Brive and SC Albi before returning to the Ernest-Wallon Stadium ahead of the 2015-16 season as head coach. In 2019 Mola won his forst Brennus Shield as a coach.

KEY PLAYERS

Toulouse boast some of Europe’s finest players, with France captain – and 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year – Antoine Dupont and Les Bleus fly-half Romain Ntamack chief among them. Dupont was named France captain on a stand-in basis last October but took the role fulltime ahead of last year’s Autumn International Series.

Ntamack and Dupont will provide

the ammunition for a back-line featuring the mercurial talents of France star Melvin Jaminet and Italian starlet Ange Capuozzo, who joined the club from Grenoble ahead of the current season.

In the pack, club captain and hooker Julien Marchand is the stand-out name along with England star Jack Willis, who joined the club after the recent Autumn internationals.

WELCOME LIAM

Toulouse superfan, Liam was diagnosed with Lymphoma in January. This was followed by 6 rounds of chemo.

He had been ill for a long time before diagnosis and Rugby is the thing that could reliably bring a smile to his face.

He is also trying hard despite the after effects of his illness and treatment to improve his fitness so that he can start playing rugby again. His favourite team is Toulouse and his favourite player is Antoine Dupont.

Great to have you here for the game, Liam!

WIESE WORDS FROM COBUS

It is a relaxed atmosphere around Carrington as a short six-day turnaround before today’s game against Toulouse means focus and efficiency are paramount.

Cobus Wiese encapsulates this attitude with his signature stoiclike, nonchalant demeanour. On his left cheek under his eye, he wears a long gash with pride as he jokes about the physicality of Sunday afternoon’s win over Harlequins.

The swirling wind and rain over The Stoop attributed to a largely cagey, close-quarters affair in North London where areas of the pitch became extremely damp and boggy. Fans watching on TV may recall Nick Schonert getting back to his feet from a carry in the first 15 minutes with his face masked in mud and sludge. Cobus spoke openly about how the team managed to topple Quins.

He said: “We knew, playing Quins at home, that they were going to try and beat us in the physical battle. We knew it would be a mental battle if we wanted to win, and the conditions probably emphasised that more.

“Deacs (Paul Deacon) asked us before the game if we wanted it more than them and it was down to every guy to prove it.”

IF US FORWARDS DO OUR JOB RIGHT, AND FREE UP OUR BACKS UP TO PLAY, WE SEEM TO GET ON TOP EVERY TIME.

Despite the biblical conditions, Sale impressively managed to play with speed and width and scored their first try through a silky backs play which released Tom O’Flaherty in the corner.

Cobus said: “We are told to have the courage to play when it is on. Flats try was a nice training ground move, and then it was a bit of finesse from Sam James for Rob’s try.

“If us forwards do our job right, and free up our backs up to play, we seem to get on top every time.”

Cobus, 25, joined Sharks in 2020 but until this season had struggled to nail down a regular place in Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson’s team.

All that has changed this season

though, with a string of impressive performances leading to Cobus missing just two games through injury this term.

He said: “I had a chat pre-season with Alex and Pete Anglesea and we laid out my goals. I said I wanted to be an established starting player, and I have had a few hiccups. The previous Harlequins game maybe was not my best game, but since then I have been a lot more consistent.

“You want to play in the big games, that is how you make a name for yourself and I am glad I could be a part of those big wins.”

A contributing factor to Cobus’ show of form may be the acquisition of England lock Jonny Hill. The former Exeter Chief came in this summer and has looked impressive in the blue and white of Sale. Cobus spoke

of the importance of consistency in his second-row partner.

He said: “I have really got to know him, and that is important in every combination in rugby.

“Jonny is a very calm person when it comes to big match situations, his reinforcement and clarity of detail frees you up to put 100% effort into the task at hand because you know your role.”

The loss in Toulouse would have been tough to take mentally, particularly as the 45-19 scoreline perhaps did not reflect how competitive the game was. Cobus did not hide that the team wanted one-back over the fivetime European champions.

He said: “Discipline frustrated us, you need forward-dominance to win and that is a big emphasis for us this week.

“We know their strengths and how they play, they like to bend the rules a little, so this weekend is not just about that physical battle but also mentally, staying on task if things don’t go our way.

“Losses like that motivate you, you come in on Monday and the coaches tell you you’ve been dominated, no one wants to hear that, and then you have no excuses and you have to right those wrongs.

“It is down to us as a pack of forwards to light the fire this weekend, if we do that and get a fast start, the backs have the ability to tear them to shreds ”On the team’s exceptional

seasons so far, Cobus stressed that no one is getting comfortable or taking anything for granted.

He added: “We don’t want to let Saracens have that first spot, because they have shown a few cracks.

“The Premiership is the best competition in the world, it is so competitive and that brings out the best in you week in week out because there is not a single easy game.

“For us it is just about being consistent every week and the wins will come.”

BY BEN NURSE

IT IS DOWN TO US AS A PACK OF FORWARDS TO LIGHT THE FIRE THIS WEEKEND, IF WE DO THAT AND GET A FAST START, THE BACKS HAVE THE ABILITY TO TEAR THEM TO SHREDS.

FROM THE SHARK TANK

OUR WEEKLY GUEST SPOT FROM THE PODCASTING SUPERFANS OVER AT THE SHARK TANK, THE NORTHERN POWERHOUSE OF RUGBY PODCASTING, WITH A DETAILED, IRREVERENT AND OCCASSIONALLY CYNICAL LOOK AT ALL THINGS SALE SHARKS.

New Year, same old Sale Sharks.

For the last few years that might have been a pessimistic refrain, but given it now refers to two massive wins either side of the Hootenanny it’s instead reflective of the optimism around the club and the renewed consistency of top-level performances we’ve come to see from this side.

A thumping home win over Leicester was a fantastic way to finish 2022, with good news stories all over the pitch – Luke James’s sensational return from injury a highlight, Sam James’s performance almost as good as his ‘Dad jokes’ in his post-match interview, and a plethora of other quietly outstanding performances (special shoutout to Si McIntyre). It was a statement win which was made all the more encouraging by the sheer dominance in defence – a theme of both of the last two games has been that the opposition seem to struggle to score points in any capacity and we are able to send them 10,20 or 30 yards backwards in the space of a couple of phases. Add in a potent attack that seems to be able to score points in a multitude of ways, and that goes a

long way to explaining the great form and league position we find ourselves in.

Of course Leicester at home is one thing, but Harlequins away was a much sterner test – especially after they inflicted our only home defeat of the season so far. The sodden pitch might not have been a welcome sight for most who wanted to see an expansive and exciting game, but Sale

managed it admirably and actually played some really exciting and intricate rugby of their own. The Tom O’Flaherty try was a superb example of manipulating the defence, but equally there were lovely touches from 1-15 with the forwards interplay just as good as the backs. Quins on the other hand never found a way to unlock the Sale defence until too late in the game, and Danny Care spent 80 minutes in Gus Warr’s pocket. That wasn’t really relevant to the point, just wanted to mention it.

So we turn now to an absolute firecracker of a home game against one of the best rugby sides in the world, containing probably the best rugby player in the world, in one of the biggest rugby competitions in the world. It’s hugely exciting for the club to be in the position of not just hosting this level of talent but also (having put in a respectable performance away from home), going into today’s game with a genuine chance to get a statement result. Of course, Toulouse with all their power and skill and squad depth should, on paper, come out victorious – but hold your horses. This Sale team are in superb form, they’re playing for each other and have international quality across the pitch and of course have us in the crowd behind them. It’s a huge ask to get a win, yes, but could we do it? Just maybe, and we in the crowd might just be the difference. So enjoy the game and shout loud!

Alex, James and Lewis

TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST, CLICK HERE:

DEFENDER PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CUP

THE DEFENDER PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CUP IS A LONGSTANDING FESTIVAL WHICH HAS BEEN GOING FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES.

This exciting rugby festival is a fun tournament which supports our grassroots clubs across al levels, from the local teams right the way up to the Sharks elite.

We love supporting our grassroot clubs and seeing potential Sharks talent swimming amongst the teams at the start of their rugby journeys.

What the young aspiring players learn are not only key for on the pitch but also for day to day life, using core values to shape them as people. We hope to see you at our next Defender Premiership Rugby Cup tournament soon.

If you want any more information, visit the Premiership Rugby website or email: community@salesharks.com.

GREAT WHITE SHARKS

A TRIO OF YOUNG SHARKS WERE NAMED IN THE ENGLAND U20S SQUAD THIS WEEK AHEAD OF A BUSY 2023 CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING THE UNDER-20S SIX NATIONS AND WORLD CUP.

Nye Thomas, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and Tristan Woodman will all join up with Alan Dickens’ squad ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on Friday, 3rd of February when England face Scotland at the Twickenham Stoop, the evening before the England senior men’s team opens its own tournament.

For Nye and recent Sharks signing Rekeiti, it’s a second crack at a Six

Nations tournament after the pair were picked for the 2022 England under 20s squad. Tristan will be making his first appearance at this level after featuring for England’s under 18s side.

Ahead of the tournament, Academy Manager Fergus Mulchrone gave us the lowdown on his talented trio.

nYe thOMaS

“Nye has risen through the ranks and is very highly regarded. He is quick, athletic and has a great skill-set. He is very physical for his size; he played a game in the Premiership last season, and he was going after the second rows. “

“There is lots of competition here at 9, so he has his work cut-out for him, but it is a challenge he will relish and take-on.”

“He was obviously in the squad last year but maybe didn’t get the chances on the

pitch that he might have wanted, and hopefully he gets that this year. He is going to get tested a fair bit against the best players at his age, and that’s going to be good for him.”

rekeiti Ma’aSi-White

Rekeiti Ma’asi-White joined Sale from Wasps in November as a highly rated prospect at outsidecentre. He has played three times for the senior side in the Premiership Cup since then.

Fergus said: “He is a destructive centre, a great ball carrier and solid in defence. He can open a game up with his physicality but also a skillset.”

“We’ve identified him as someone who could break through in the next couple of years, so he is another who will benefit from being tested at international level.”

TriStan WOOdMan

The final member of the trio, Tristan Woodman, was one of 11 young Sharks given senior academy contracts ahead of the current season.

Fergus said: “It is a great opportunity for him because its his first year, so he is in the same position Nye was in last year. “He has been doing well at his loan club, Fylde, but now he needs to get his head down and work ridiculously hard.”

Despite losing the trio for a couple

months, Fergus says the international fixtures offer his players the chance to grow and come back stronger, more wellrounded and more experienced.

He said: “They will learn a lot, they all play at a good level at their loan clubs, but this will be quicker, and closer to Premiership standard.

“We want to see them play and them to be tested and learn and bring those learnings back here and kick-on.”

SHARKS WOMEN BACK IN BUSINESS

Fellow top five contenders, Exeter travelled to the CorpAcq Stadium with a record of four wins and just one loss.

Despite the Sharks heroic defence, and Vicky E Irwin’s first-half try, Chiefs took home the bonus point win at the CorpAcq Stadium.

The second half allowed Sharks’ Women to prove their defensive prowess in front of the home crowd, managing to prevent any further scores in the final 25 minutes of the game.

The Sharks will be looking to add to build on their defensive attributes in the next home fixture agains Wasps.

For the full match report:

NEXT UP AT THE CORPACQ STADIUM

Sale Sharks Women are back in action on home turf against Wasps on Sunday 22nd January, KO: 1pm.

All Sale Shark season ticket holders and U16’S get in for FREE.

T A L

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E N T F O R T O D A Y ,

O M O R R O W & T H E F U T U R E

YOUR SHARKS

FORWARDS

GEORGE ARNOLD

ROUBAN BIRCH

BEN BAMBER

EWAN ASHMAN

ETHAN CAINE

JOSH BEAUMONT

DOM BARROW

BEN CARLILE

PATREECE BELL

ELLIS CAUSEY

HUW DAVIES

JAMES HARPER

SAM DUGDALE

BEN CURRY

DAN DU PREEZ

ROSS HARRISON

CAL FORD

TOM CURRY

JEAN-LUC DU PREEZ

JONNY HILL

ALEX GROVES

JOE JONES

YANDE NKONGE

JONO ROSS

MATT POSTLETHWAITE

SIMON MCINTYRE

TUMY ONASANYA

NICK SCHONERT

WILL RILEY

EWAN MURPHY

COENIE OOSTHUIZEN

TOMMY TAYLOR

BEVAN RODD

BACKS

HARRY THOMPSON

TRISTAN WOODMAN

CONNOR DOHERTY

JOE CARPENTER

AKKER VAN DER MERWE

ROB DU PREEZ

WILL CLIFF

COBUS WIESE

JOE BEDLOW

GEORGE FORD

TOM CURTIS

ELLIOT GOURLAY

SAM JAMES

ARRON REED

TOM O’FLAHERTY

SAM HILL

BYRON MCGUIGAN

TOM ROEBUCK

AARON POPE

LUKE JAMES

BEN MOTAMED

JOE SIMPSON

RAFFI QUIRKE

NYE THOMAS

CHARLIE WARDLE

MANU TULAGI

KIERAN WILKINSON

GUS WARR

JASON WOODWARD

CHEERS TO ALL FANS