Sale turn to Fergie for inspiration

Since the end of the regular season, Sharks have called on legends of other sports to inspire the team, with Jamie Peacock – the most successful player in Super League history – coming in ahead of the semi-final win over Leicester Tigers.

Now, as preparations intensify for a trip to Twickenham to take on Saracens, Alex Sanderson invited Sir Alex to speak to the team.

For Jono Ross, the Sale captain who will retire after Saturday’s encounter, it was the sort of visit that gives you goosebumps.

He said: “A few of us, including myself, were very much in awe of him. He’s a fantastic man and it’s very nice to take little bits and bobs off him when you can. It’s special when someone of that magnitude walks into the building.

“The boys were glued to every word. He’s achieved so much within the game and he’s quite grabbing, the way he speaks. You turn your head when he talks and listen. It was special and I think the boys really appreciated him coming in and taking some time to come and speak to us.

“The key thing is that you have to try to take away things that have worked for them and made them so successful. Jamie Peacock was really successful and spoke really well. He spoke on leadership and a few things we have spoken about, we spoke in the semi-final week and we’ve spoken about it again this week.

“Sir Alex spoke about a few things worked for him. He definitely remembers the losses more than the wins, so don’t lose basically! It’s definitely valuable though, it puts everyone in a great frame of mind when you see someone like that walk into the building.”

Ross will hang up his boots on Saturday, drawing to a close a career that saw him spend one season with Saracens a decade ago. 

However, it is at Sale that he has become part of the furniture over a six-year spell, and as the time comes to call it a day, he has every intention of bowing out with a win. 

He added: “I’m massively proud of where the club has come over the last six or seven years. When I arrived, we finished eighth or ninth.

“The aim was to get to the play-offs, which we did, but now to be in a final is massively special and massively rewarding for the work that has gone in.

“What was really special was to see the stadium in the state it was for the semi-final. That was unbelievable for all of us, to see the passion of the fans. But the job is not done and we’ve got another big hurdle this weekend.”

via PremiershipRugby.com