WHEN Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy installed Philippe Saint-Andre as director of rugby two years ago, many scoffed in amusement.

After all, the former French winger had left his two previous coaching posts - at Gloucester and Bourgoin - in controversial circumstances. At Kingsholm, he was accused of importing too many British players and of presiding over a dressing room riven with conflict.

Then at Bourgoin, he was sacked after admitting he had applied for the job of coaching Wales.

Many within the game had written Saint-Andre off when he arrived at Edgeley Park in March 2004. But no one is laughing at Kennedy's decision now. Saint-Andre has become the hottest property in rugby by piloting Sale to the summit of the English game. That has not surprised Kennedy.

"When you talk about the greatest talent, such as Philippe, I think about the way the Spartans used to train their horses," said the Sharks owner. "There was always one horse in the pack that was almost impossible to train as it was wild.

"You could either break its spirit and have nothing, or you could motivate it so that there was only one horse you wanted to be on.

Quality

"Philippe Saint-Andre is a bit like that. He's a passionate man, not a `yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir' type of man.

"His greatest quality is being able to surround himself with top coaching staff. Without his assistant Kingsley Jones, we wouldn't be where we are today.

"He has tremendous passion, which is infectious.

"Whatever he has to do, he will come up with a plan to win and that's why we're here - to win."

Success, of course, often brings unwanted attention. And Kennedy knows Saint-Andre's name will top France's wanted list as they seek a successor to Bernard Laporte, who stands down as national coach after next year's Rugby World Cup.

But Kennedy will fight to keep his man, who has two years left on his contract.

"He has kept his counsel on the subject," said Kennedy. "And my motto is, if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

"I'm not going to raise it with him. If he wants to raise it with me - or if France happen to approach us - then so be it, but I'll do everything in my power to keep Philippe here at Edgeley Park."

What is your assessment of Saint-Andre as a coach? Have your say.

For Sale's official website, click here.