England's George Ford stood down with immediate effect

Ford, recently named Quilter Nations Series Player of the Tournament, won't make the field in France and us stood down from action for now — but the outlook is considerably brighter than first feared.

"It's nothing long-term, he's still ongoing through fitness tests, I can't see him making the field this week but comparing what it could have been to what it is, we feel extremely lucky that he's got away with something that could have been more serious,” Sanderson said.

“It's not going to be serious, it's not going to be long, a week or two at most."

The fly-half has been managing an abductor strain, missing last weekend's game against Glasgow, and while he is already back running and testing strongly, Sale will err on the side of caution.

"It's some kind of abductor strain, he's had it scanned. All his metrics are great, he's in the gym, he's testing really well, he's running. But once you've scanned it and there's something there, we are ethically bound to make sure that it doesn't become something bigger. Just looking after him really."

Sale's recent run of losses has come with important context. One-point defeats away to Leicester Tigers and at home to Exeter Chiefs underline how fine the margins have been, and last weekend’s performance away to Glasgow — with a heavily rotated side hit by injuries to the likes of Joe Carpenter and Tom Roebuck — reinforced to Sanderson that his squad is still trending in the right direction.

"Very much encouraged by how competitive we were against basically the Scottish team last week given our injury status… I thought the team stood up,” he reflected.

“If you look at those performances in isolation, two [defeats] that have been by one point, I reckon we could be fourth in the table but the outcome of our league positions shows that we're eighth [seventh]."

Amid the grind of a difficult injury run and a brutal fixture list, Sanderson emphasised the importance of maintaining a positive environment for his players.

"You want them to enjoy their lives, you want them to enjoy the time they have. It should be the best time of their lives. You want to create that atmosphere for them."

Now comes a different kind of challenge: a notoriously hostile trip to France, where Clermont-Auvergne’s home crowd rarely requires much encouragement to turn the volume up. For Sanderson, that energy is something to embrace — especially for the younger players stepping into big roles.

"The more hostility, the more partisan the crowd, the better for me,” he said. “There's two ways you can go, it just energises me and I'm sure it will for the lads, it's invaluable for some of these younger lads who have to step in and get this experience, for them to feel that."

The key, he insists, will be denying Clermont a foothold in the collisions and the set-piece.

"If you let them get dominance in the set piece and around the gain line then they'll have a field day and the crowd will start banging their drums and then it feels like it's you against the world.

"I'm getting excited just talking about it. We've got a tough job to do but I'm confident the lads will step up, be physical and enjoy it."

Each of the six pools featured a team from Bands 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The confirmed Bands based on rankings were:

Band 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Argentina
Band 2: Australia, Fiji, Scotland, Italy, Wales, Japan
Band 3: Georgia, Uruguay, Spain, USA, Chile, Tonga
Band 4: Samoa, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong China, Zimbabwe, Canada

New Zealand – Perennial contenders with flair, power and unmatched rugby IQ.
Australia – Unpredictable but dangerous, capable of brilliance on their day.
Chile – Fast-improving newcomers bringing passion and fearless physicality.
Hong Kong China – Skillful, energetic, and eager to prove themselves on the global stage.

South Africa – Brutal, relentless, and brutally efficient—never count them out.
Italy – Developing rapidly, mixing strong set-piece work with expanding ambition.
Georgia – Scrum specialists with raw forward strength and growing all-round polish.
Romania – Proud and powerful, known for toughness and unwavering fight.

Argentina – Dynamic, crafty, and fiercely competitive with a never-say-die spirit.
Fiji – Magical offloads, searing pace, and unique unpredictability.
Spain – Determined climbers building consistency and confidence every year.
Canada – Physical and committed, working to regain their traditional sharpness.

Ireland – Well-drilled, intelligent, and ruthlessly efficient across the park.
Scotland – Creative attackers with growing confidence and slick backline play.
Uruguay – Tenacious, organized, and fearless against bigger rugby nations.
Portugal – Exciting, fast-paced, and thriving with a young, fearless core.

France – Electric, unpredictable, and capable of brilliance from anywhere.
Japan – High-tempo, disciplined, and tactically sharp—they never stop moving.
USA – Athletic and physical, with a growing pool of exciting talent.
Samoa – Bone-shaking tackles, powerful runners, and trademark island flair.

England – Structured, strategic, and capable of grinding down any opponent.
Wales – Proud, passionate, and dangerous when the momentum swings their way.
Tonga – Heavy hitters with explosive power and fearless intensity.
Zimbabwe – Energetic and ambitious, bringing speed and spirit to every contest.

From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!