Sale 'not done making statements' - Sanderson

Alex Sanderson's Sale side moved back into the top four of the Premiership with their win against Bristol

Sale are "not done making statements" after thrashing Bristol 38-0 on Friday, says director of rugby Alex Sanderson.

The win was the first on the road for the Sharks this season and saw them propelled up the table into third place.

Sanderson said he was "fuelled" by the fact his team had been seemingly written off as contenders for a top-four spot.

"I said to them downstairs we're not done making statements, proving points," Sanderson said.

"We'll let our performances speak for us, and we'll see where we are in May, June. At the moment it continues to fuel me, to anger me."

The win was all the more impressive as it came against a previously in-form Bristol team who have had the most potent attack in the league so far this campaign.

The Sharks' defence was impenetrable for the Bears and gave them their third Premiership win in a row.

Sanderson said a change in the coaching staff, with the appointment of former Scotland wing Byron McGuigan as their new defence coach, was starting to show in performances.

"It's so different to where we were two months ago with this team, and a new coaching structure and those changes that we made in the Prem Cup have come to fruition, seemingly so, at least in the last three games we've played with a full squad," Sanderson said.

"Any small changes take a massive amount of effort and I believe Byron has brought that about, he's done that. The mid-point season review is a positive one."

Sanderson, who signed a new deal in May after returning to the club to take the top job in 2021, led Sale to the Premiership final in 2022-23 where they were beaten by Saracens.

They also reached the semi-finals last season but were were beaten by Bath.

He said the win against Bristol gave them belief they can claim a place in the final four again.

"You've got to win these kinds of games on the road to know that in a semi-final, maybe on the road, you can do it again then," Sanderson said.

"You've got to do it when it matters and it mattered this week, backing up from the Exeter game, going into the top four, dropping back out when Sarries won, and forcing your way back in at this point.

"At the mid-point you can generally look at the league and say these are the teams that are probably in the running."