The Good, The Bad & The Rugby S1 Ep48: The Tao of Alex Sanderson
Jun 15, 2021
Alex Sanderson, Director of Rugby at Sale Sharks and a former England international, dives into his innovative coaching philosophy. He reveals how psychological insights give his team an edge and shares lessons learned from coaching legends like Eddie Jones and Brendan Venter. Alex emphasizes the importance of emotional processing and building a player-led culture. With the Premiership semi-final against Exeter approaching, he discusses simplifying tactics to reduce pressure on his players and reflects on creating a respectful team environment in the North West.
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Use Hot And Cold Debriefs
- Do conduct hot debriefs immediately after games to capture raw emotions before they cool.
- Then follow up with cold, reflective reviews days later to align feelings with objective reality.
Identity Before Tactics
- Build team identity first, then add processes and tactics as the final layer.
- Identity drives behaviour and makes tactical work more durable under pressure.
People Over The Game
- Alex Sanderson admits he values people, process and progress more than being a fan of rugby itself.
- He studies personalities and team dynamics rather than watching rugby purely as a supporter.