Pisi says Sale setback is a ‘kick up the backside’ for Saints

George Pisi says Saturday’s defeat at Sale was a ‘kick up the backside’ for Saints.
By Tom Vickers
Published 11th Jan 2015, 10:19 BST
BAD DAY - Sale Sharks get over the line to score a try against Saints on Saturday (Picture: Sharon Lucey)BAD DAY - Sale Sharks get over the line to score a try against Saints on Saturday (Picture: Sharon Lucey)
BAD DAY - Sale Sharks get over the line to score a try against Saints on Saturday (Picture: Sharon Lucey)

Jim Mallinder’s men were beaten 20-7 at the AJ Bell Stadium as tries from Eifion Lewis-Roberts and Dan Braid sealed their fate.

It was a disappointing end to a seven-match winning streak, which has kept Saints on top of the Aviva Premiership pile.

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And Pisi knows the Sharks shock must be used as a wake-up call ahead of Sunday’s crucial Champions Cup game at Ospreys.

“It’s a kick up the backside,” said the Samoan centre. “It will stand us in good stead for next week hopefully.

“Next weekend is an opportunity to stay in control ahead of the big game against Racing Metro the week after.

“We know Ospreys will be tough, it’s another away game and they’re doing well in their league, but so are we.

“It’s going to be an exciting game next week.”

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Saints will be hoping to get key men back for the crucial Champions Cup double-header, with Courtney Lawes and Samu Manoa among the men to have missed the defeat at Sale.

Lawes has been nursing an ankle injury in recent weeks, while Manoa returns from compassionate leave on Monday.

And Pisi admitted those men, along with the likes of Christian Day and Kahn Fotuali’i, were missed on Saturday.

“We missed our big boys on Saturday,” he said. “They could have scored a lot more tries than they did with the pack that they had.

“Our boys did well to contain them for a while, but they put a lot of pressure on us and we just didn’t react properly.”