Four changes for Sale ahead of Champions Cup opener
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Alex Sanderson has made four changes to his XV to face Glasgow Warriors in the first pool stage game of this season’s Investec Champions Cup. England quartet George Ford, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry and Tom Roebuck are all replaced in the starting line-up following the Gallagher Premiership win against Leicester Tigers on Sunday.
On the replacements bench, England and Lions lock Jonny Hill features in a matchday squad for the first time since January, following a serious knee injury and a ban.
In the only front-row alteration, hooker Tadgh McElroy comes in for Cowan-Dickie to start alongside props Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
The second-row remains unchanged, with Ernst van Rhyn teaming up once again with the towering line-out presence of Hyron Andrews.
In the back-row, Ben Curry is replaced by Jean-Luc du Preez, who starts at blindside flanker. That means Tom Curry switches to openside, with Dan du Preez once again lining up at number 8.
Gus Warr keeps the number 9 shirt, but he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back with George Ford absent.
Luke James starts again, but switches to outside centre, with Sam Bedlow joining him in the 12 shirt.
In the back three, Scotland winger Arron Reed lines up on the left wing, with Will Addison and full-back Joe Carpenter completing the XV.
Alex has once again plumped for a 6-2 bench split with Harry Thompson, Si McIntyre and James Harper covering the front-row. Jonny Hill, Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale are the other forward replacements, with Raffi Quirke and Tom Curtis offering Alex options in the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Will Addison, 13. Sam Bedlow, 12. Luke James, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez ©, 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Tadgh McElroy, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. JL du Preez, 7. Tom Curry, 8. Dan du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Harry Thompson, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. James Harper, 19. Ben Bamber, 20. Jonny Hill, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Sam Dugdale.
