A leading Premiership director of rugby is predicting a backlash from English clubs this weekend after a largely disappointing set of results in the opening round of the Champions Cup. Sale’s Alex Sanderson is preparing to welcome back his “big four” international contingent for the visit of Racing 92 on Friday and believes the game could kickstart a collective English revival.
Six of the eight Premiership sides in round one action were beaten last weekend but, despite Sale’s opening defeat in Glasgow, Sanderson still insists there is sufficient quality in England to make an impact on this season’s tournament. “There are good enough players and good enough teams, definitely,” said Sanderson, who is set to recall his England quartet of George Ford, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry, and Tom Roebuck.
