Courtney Lawes' England Recall Hopes Dimmed by Sale's Opening Day Loss

Courtney Lawes' move back to English rugby didn't start as planned. Expectations were high for his return, but Sale's first game of the season at the CorpAcq Stadium ended in defeat to Bristol. Despite a significant summer recruitment drive led by Alex Sanderson, with Lawes as the marquee signing, it was Bristol's more established squad that secured a bonus-point victory. Harry Randall and Louis Rees-Zammit each scored two tries for the visitors. Bristol coach Pat Lam expressed satisfaction with the result.

Sale faces pressure to justify their investment, and further losses like this will likely be unacceptable. Securing home wins is crucial for their top-four ambitions this season. The team's ill-discipline repeatedly gave Bristol easy scoring opportunities. Lawes spent much of the match dealing with the fallout from penalties. Bristol's intensity at the breakdown surpassed what Lawes encountered during his two years in France's second division.

Despite the setback, Sanderson remains confident that his squad will find its rhythm soon. He acknowledged the need for improvement and honesty within the team, expecting better performances from his players moving forward. The debate about Lawes' potential recall to the England squad, three years after his last Test appearance, continues. This performance alone is unlikely to sway national selectors.

England's depth at lock, capable of playing at number six, has grown significantly. Alex Coles' development and George Martin's return to fitness add to the competition. Ollie Chessum is considered the top prospect among them, while captain Maro Itoje needs to reassert his starting place after being rested over the summer. Lawes would currently be fifth choice for the position.

However, head coach Steve Borthwick's preference for a lineout-jumping flanker could still create opportunities. Coles, Martin, Chessum, and Itoje are all likely candidates for the matchday 23. This means Lawes might only return to the squad due to an injury during the autumn internationals.

Lawes was placed in the 'maybe' category when England selected their squad for their recent alignment camp. Sale must demonstrate a significant overall improvement for his status to change. It is anticipated that he will eventually reach his expected level.

Bristol centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg delivered a standout performance among the potential England players. Early in the game, he pressured George Ford, preventing a comfortable start to the season for the fly-half. Ford had an underwhelming day, fumbling the ball near Bristol's try line and missing a straightforward penalty. While Sale's scrum performed well, their lineout struggled. Despite brief moments of energy from Sale's Xavier Roe, Joe Marchant, and Alex Lozowski, Bristol showed more attacking threat. Bristol took the lead after half an hour, and Sale failed to regain the advantage.

Bristol experienced inconsistency last season, but Lam believes the work rate displayed in Manchester will address some of their weaknesses. He emphasized the importance of pre-season hard work translating into game performance. Ellis Genge's confidence going into the match highlights the team's readiness. Lam stated that their game was built on excelling in aspects that don't require raw talent. Consistent work rate, he argued, leads to consistency in both attack and defence structures.

He noted that last year, players were often out of position, compromising their defence and attack. This season, the focus is on off-the-ball effort. Sanderson's disappointed expression at the final whistle contrasted sharply with Lam's satisfaction. A missed late penalty for Sale could have secured a losing bonus point, leaving the team facing early-season introspection.