Sanderson will know that better times are ahead
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As Alex Sanderson reflected on what could have been after a Premiership final that yielded 60 points, Sale's director of rugby had been there before when he was part of Saracens' coaching team.
They lost another 60-point final, 33-27 to Leicester in 2010 having led in the final quarter. It proved to be the springboard for Sarries' dominance first in England and then in Europe. As Sanderson looks back on a season in which his side exceeded external expectations, he should have less of a wait than the 17 years since Sale's previous final.
There were moments in the first half when Sale were hanging on as Saracens, thriving on quick possession, dictated through Owen Farrell who showed that he was at the very top of his game, blessed with quick delivery from the breakdown and showcasing skills which have often been stowed away in an England jersey.
The match had been billed as a showdown between Farrell and his friend and England rival George Ford who, the year before, had started for Leicester against Saracens in the final. It was decided elsewhere as Sale, for all their dominance up front, were outwitted at the breakdown.
Much is still made of the importance of achieving dominance up front but there were only 10 scrums compared with nearly 200 rucks and mauls. The lineout was the more significant set-piece and two that Sale lost on their own throw proved costly.
Saracens started without their England prop Mako Vunipola and had to replace Jamie George after 10 minutes, but they overcame the losses without blinking. Eroni Mawi and Theo Dan played like veterans and a reason for the success of Saracens since the defeat in 2010 has been their ability to overcome the absence of players who were considered to be irreplaceable.
Sale's policy was initially one of containment. When they changed their front row after 45 minutes, it appeared to be perverse given their superiority up front where Simon McIntyre had given Marco Riccioni, arguably the Premiership's leading tight-head this season, a taxing afternoon. Sanderson's decision turned the game. The replacement loose-head Bevan Rodd added to their breakdown and scored the try which gave them the lead for the first time after 52 minutes. Sale had the momentum and Saracens had memories of 12 months before when Leicester pipped them to the title.
And then Duncan Taylor charged down Joe Carpenter's clearance and Elliot Daly restored the advantage for Saracens who were not going to give it up again. Carpenter started the season not knowing whether he would have a part to play and ended it as one of the leading players in his position in the league, but one mistake proved decisive.
Carpenter will come again, and so will Sale. Just as Saracens in 2010 ultimately paid for their lack of experience of the big occasion, so the Sharks were unable to hold on at the moment of reckoning, but Sanderson knows what it takes to build and the moment will not be lost on him.
Sale are a side which is on the up rather than one that has reached its destination. While it was skipper Jono Ross's last game, the best years are ahead of most of their players and they will have the experience of Ford, Manu Tuilagi, Akker van der Merwe and Tom Curry again next season.
