Manu Tuilagi says Sale go into Saturday’s Premiership Rugby final inspired by a team talk from Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sharks are at Twickenham for the first time since winning in 2006 and up against a Saracens side favoured to land a seventh title. But a visit to their Carrington training ground by United great Fergie has the underdogs fired up to spring an upset.
“You don't want to lose,” the ex-Reds boss told them. “Concentration - you're not there to enjoy it, you're there to win.”
Tuilagi first met Ferguson when he came into the England camp before the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
“He is a legend, a legend of the world,” the Sale centre said. “He’s given us some wisdom to take into the weekend.
“He talked about getting people right, mentally and physically, for these big games. It’s a massive occasion. Mentally and emotionally we’ve got to manage that.”
Sale reached the final at the expense of champions Leicester after a pep talk from rugby league great Jamie Peacock.
They then turned to Ferguson, according to boss Alex Sanderson, “through him being a proud Northerner and having some influence in winning and winning cups”.
He added: “We thought we would try and wring a little bit of gold out of him and he didn’t disappoint. He had the lads on the edge of their seats. It was not new stuff but when it comes from Sir Alex’s mouth it is gospel isn’t it?”
Sanderson is not about to fall into the trap of thinking stardust alone will transform his team’s prospects.
“If we are relying on Alex Ferguson on a Tuesday morning to win us this cup there is something wrong,” he said. “But it is good to have him in our corner.
“What you have got to be careful about is not throwing too much at the boys in weeks like this, not overstimulating and not having too many messages.
“Sir Alex is a smart customer. It is small percentages he can add and an increased feeling and hype about how special this week is. He said the right things and it was worth it.”
Asked whether he planned to employ any Fergie-style mind games, Sanderson said: “No, no games. The only game is the one out on the field.
“I think what Sir Alex was known for and what we have been working on is around resilience, persistence, concentration and being in the moment.
“I know it is a cliche but it is going to be the odd moment where whichever team switches off will open up that opportunity which I do believe we will win or lose us the game.”
