Sale Sharks endured a humiliating 85-19 defeat at home to Saracens on Sunday, conceding 13 tries as their tenth loss in 13 league games. The drubbing drops them to seventh in the Premiership, six points ahead of Gloucester and seven clear of Harlequins. Coach Alex Sanderson insisted the result will not shake his belief in his own ‘minerals’.

Facing fellow strugglers Harlequins next Saturday, Sanderson promised a ‘major response’ and vowed a 100 % effort. He pointed to flanker Tom Curry’s likely comeback after a calf injury sustained in a Six Nations warm‑up. Behind the scenes, co‑owner Simon Orange phoned early on Monday, offering encouragement and input as the club wrestles with injuries and the loss of back‑room staff Marco Bortolami and Byron McGuigan.

A win over Harlequins would preserve Sale’s top‑eight hopes and keep Champions Cup qualification alive, a goal the side has achieved in four of the last five seasons. After beating the same opponents three weeks earlier in the Champions Cup, Sanderson pledged a ‘much improved’ performance at the Twickenham Stoop. He concluded by staking his mortgage on a showing, signalling unwavering belief in his squad.