Sale Sharks flanker Jonathan Mills is confident the team’s hard work will pay off despite losing their opening two games of the season.
Sale have suffered narrow defeats to Bath and Gloucester, leaving them tenth in the Aviva Premiership with just two bonus points.
But the Sharks will be looking to change that when they welcome newly-promoted London Welsh to the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday at 2pm.
“First two games when we look back we could have easily come out with two wins but you know that’s rugby you can’t win them all, all the time,” Mills, who joined Sale in 2013 after moving from London Welsh, told MM.
“But we are obviously looking to put what we think we can improve on from those two games into this weekend’s performance and hopefully come out with a win.
“The performances are there obviously we need to just tighten up our performances a little bit get it a little bit cleaner with errors etc.”
The 30-year-old made 169 appearances for the Exiles and was captain when they were relegated from the top division in 2011 – but is determined to help Sale not only win this weekend but improve on the club’s sixth-place finish from last year.
“You have to have ambition to improve, I mean sixth was a good last year but obviously we want to try and replicate that at as a minimum standard but I think the opposition will have improved,” he said.
“It’s such a tough league with small margins and if a decision goes your way, one error or interception can change your position from sixth to tenth so we just have to look at our performances and try to take each game as it comes and see where we are at the end of it.”
Welsh have already suffered two heavy defeats this season losing 0-52 and 53-26 to Exeter and Bath respectively.
And while Sale have also yet to record a win, performances have been encouraging, especially from Danny Cipriani who has scored 22 points over both games.
“We’re creating opportunities for scoring them [tries] and hopefully we can get some more this weekend,” added Mills.
“The boys have been working hard fingers crossed we get good weather so we can throw it about a bit and score a few tries.
“Danny has worked hard with the boys he’s been telling us exactly what he wants and he’s been leading us out on the pitch from his position which as a forward pack that’s what you want, you want that direction which puts you in the right position on the field.
“He’s playing well around the park and he’s playing with a smile on his face which every player wants.”
Main image courtesy of Sale Sharks via YouTube, with thanks.
