Premiership
Wigglesworth previews Premiership trip to Sale
Richard Wigglesworth says, like his players, he is focused on finding improvements in his own performance ahead of the second fixture in charge of Leicester Tigers.
Speaking mid-week from Mattioli Woods Welford Road, where the side held their final squad session ahead of Friday night’s trip north to face Sale Sharks in Round 14 of the Gallagher Premiership, Wigglesworth said he had taken learnings from his debut match in the top job.
“I just want to learn as quickly as I can, properly, so I can be as good as I possibly can for this group,” he said.
“I am so fortunate to have such good people around me and having had learned from a great coach in Steve [Borthwick] and watch him do his thing.
“There is definitely stuff I could have done better at the first game and, like when you are a player, you look at your performance, learn and improve for the next game.”
Discussing the different challenges he now faces from the coaches box, which weren’t as prevalent on the pitch, he added: “There are some very different and some very similar challenges, I am fortunate to have had the period of being both player and coach so it isn’t all a surprise for me in this role.”
“I mean one example is that we are now out on the road for a month without a game at home for four weeks, which I probably wouldn’t have considered as a player – living so week to week – but as a coach need to ensure we’re planning around that.”
Tigers trip north in the final fixture of 2022 is followed by an away game against Newcastle Falcons in Round 15 before a return to European action in France against Clermont, before hosting Ospreys in Leicester 27 days after the last appearance at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Asked about the lengthy period in between home games, the Tigers Head Coach said the Leicester support made it easier.
“We haven’t had many games at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this season, but it’s another challenge and as a group, we take them head on and we’ll do the same for the next four weeks on the road,” he said.
“Luckily, our travelling support is like no other and so it won’t feel like we are alone in the next four weeks – wherever we are playing.”
Having recorded a victory in his first game in charge – against Gloucester on Christmas Eve – Wigglesworth was quizzed on whether he would be trying to add more of his personality to the squad as he got more comfortable in the coaches chair.
“It’s not about my personality being all over the team,” said Wigglesworth.
“It’s about our personality as a coaching group, as players, all having an influence on who we are and what we do.
“The team are going to take this club forward in the best way we can, as a group, it will not be about any individual.”
His first Tigers side was missing a few familiar faces, ruled out through injury, of which the Head Coach said could be the case on Friday night but – like every week – each playing carrying an injury would be assessed “individually” and managed accordingly.
“We don’t send anyone out before they’re right, it’s an absolute non-negotiable for us,” said Wigglesworth.
“Everybody has got the challenge, across the league, of blokes with bumps and bruises, so we aren’t any different in that regard.
“We’ll continue to assess all those who have got knocks, on an individual basis and make the call with each player once they are good to go.”
A Premiership winner with Friday night’s opponents, Wigglesworth said he had “fond” memories of his time at the club and was not surprised by their impressive form so far during the current league campaign.
“I have incredibly fond memories of my time at Sale Sharks and some of my best friends are from that time I spent at the club,” he said.
“They are a very well-organised team, who are well coached and it’s no surprise to me that they are one of the form teams of the Premiership.
“I think we can all see that they are going to be up there this season at the top of the pile.”
Content & Images from – Leicester Tigers Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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