'The best job in the world' - Waller reflects on long-awaited Saints comeback

The black, green and gold were eventually beaten 32-23 at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday night, having rattled Sale late on.

Saints came back from 17-0 and 29-13 down to reduce the deficit to just six points with six minutes to go.

But Rob du Preez landed a penalty to put the seal on Sale's bonus-point success, leaving Saints with nothing.

And now the focus switches to a big game against Harlequins on Saturday at Franklin's Gardens, where Saints have not won a league match in 2020.

"I can't fault our physicality or effort at all - that was up there, but it's just executing those plays under pressure," said Waller.

"It's something we're very aware of and it's back to the drawing board.

"We need to put a few wrongs right this week against Quins.

"We've got to start strongly.

"It was a tough place for us to play last week and to be 17 points down after 20 minutes was pretty disappointing, but we actually came back strongly.

"We just let ourselves down in the last 20, giving away that losing bonus point and not coming away with anything at all.

"The lads are hurting and hopefully we can use that to fly into this week."

Waller made his first Premiership appearance since February after recovering from an Achilles problem.

And he said: "I love it. It's the best job in the world and playing with these boys is a privilege.

"It's always nicer when you win.

"You don't play the game to lose so it was pretty disappointing in that aspect.

"Whether I'm playing or not, it's about what we do on the pitch and at the end of the week everyone's just going to remember the result, the L or the W, not whether I came back.

"It was disappointing on Friday in that aspect, there's plenty to work on and we'll have some uncomfortable conversations ahead of Harlequins."