Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media today ahead of Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Sale Sharks.
Here’s what Alan had to say:
On the signing of Duhan van der Merwe
- It’s a massive signing for the club and a statement of our intent.
- Duhan is an x-factor player who is going to play an important role for us.
- He is big, physical and fast. He knows his way to the line and our supporters are going to really enjoy watching him.
On the recruitment of Mark Jones as Senior Assistant Coach
- We have taken our time in appointing a Defence Coach because we wanted to make sure that we got someone who was the right fit and Mark is exactly that.
- Jonathan Thomas has picked up that role but we said that we would review the situation at the end of the 2019/20 season.
- We did that and it was clear that we needed someone but we wanted someone who was aligned with all our coaching staff.
- It was clear from the way that Mark inter-acted with the other coaches when he visited the club that he was the perfect fit.
- He knows JT and Matt Sherratt already so he is not a stranger, and the two seasons he has had coaching Crusaders in Super Rugby and Canterbury in the Mitre Ten competition in New Zealand, working under Scott Robertson have been absolutely critical in his development as a coach.
- He played rugby at the highest level and he is the missing piece in our jigsaw puzzle.
Presumably he would not have been available had COVID not prevented him from returning to New Zealand?
- It was unfortunate circumstances that led to Mark becoming available but I am delighted that we have been able to get him.
- He is a really good coach and everyone speaks very highly of him.
Your match against Harlequins last weekend was cancelled how has that affected the preparations for Sale?
- We have continued to work hard in training and we expect a tough game at the weekend.
- Sale are a very good side, particularly at home. They have a strong South African contigent so we know what to expect from them.
Has the cancellation of matches due to COVID compromised the integrity of the league?
- We are operating in difficult times and we are doing our best to keep the game going. If we don’t then commercially it will be a disaster for the game.
- It’s not a perfect situation and it is no-one’s fault. We have to bear with it and make the best of a difficult situation.
- These are not normal times. Of course, if matches are cancelled and points are allocated, then the competition is compromised and that is something that the powers-that-be have to take into consideration.