SALE director of rugby Alex Sanderson insists the drop in the Premiership salary cap makes it difficult for English clubs to compete with star-studded French sides in Europe.
After a promising first half, Sale were comprehensively beaten 41-22 by Racing 92 in Paris to end English representation in the Heineken Champions Cup at the quarter-final stage.
The Premiership salary cap is now £5million which is significantly less than the spend of some of the English clubs’ European rivals, but Sanderson believes they must try to bridge the gap through good coaching and building a strong infrastructure.
“Yes of course it does because you don’t have the money to sign the quality of players needed,” said Sanderson when asked if the salary cap prevents English clubs competing with French sides.
“There’s been a difference in the salary cap forever between the French and English clubs. When Toulon used to have a £20m salary cap and the English clubs were on £5-6m and yet they managed to win.
“You can make up the gap in the salary cap through really good coaching, decent infrastructure, and culture as well. You can bridge the gap through talent through cohesion and decent coaching.”
Teddy Thomas, Finn Russell, Juan Imhoff and Max Spring scored Racing’s tries, with Nolann Le Garrec and Maxime Machenaud kicking 21 points between them.
Sale scored three tries of their own courtesy of Manu Tuilagi, Akker van der Merwe and Ben Curry, with Robert Du Preez kicking seven points.
Sale led at half time, but Racing’s firepower behind the scrum proved to be the difference.
“It’s really frustrating,” said Sanderson. “I don’t think you can argue with the result. You don’t win quarter-finals by shipping 40 points.
“It wasn’t for a lack of effort. Our set-piece, and our physicality for the most part was right up there, but some of our decisions gifted them some fast ball.
“We played into their hands in the second half, and the game went away from us.”
Racing will play last season’s beaten finalists La Rochelle in the semi-finals next weekend in Lens.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here