As befits a campaign that has gone badly astray, injuries have played a key part.

Sale’s England core have nearly all spent significant stretches on the treatment table and been unavailable for selection.

Back-row twins Tom and Ben Curry, winger Tom Roebuck, Asher Opoku-Fjordjour, and in recent weeks, fellow front-rowers Bevan Rodd and Luke Cowan-Dickie, have all missed large chunks of action.

The coaching front has also been affected. Marco Bortolami left his job as head coach in December after just six months at the club, while defence coach Byron McGuigan started a job share with England in October before leaving Sale in March.

Sanderson said he had been tested in a way he had not experienced before, but with the support of owner Simon Orange, he had real conviction that things would turn around.

“In the tough times, the adversity, you get to see who stands up in terms of leaders,” Sanderson said.

“Young lads have to step up, which they did, and you realise who’s in your corner and for what reasons.

“For all of those things, I’m really grateful, for learning the lessons the hard way and I’m very positive about the future.”

Sale have strengthened their squad for next season by signing England internationals Courtney Lawes, Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski, along with Wales front-row pair Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis, to add experience and ease the pressure on the club’s promising homegrown players.