Premiership | Sale Sharks vs Bristol Bears line ups and preview
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An enticing clash heralds the opening of Round 17 when Sale host Bristol Bears at the AJ Bell stadium.
While it is expected that the teams will be somewhat fatigued owing to the jam-packed schedule currently on the go, it is hoped that the players will produce goods similar to what they managed the last time they met, in Round 3, where a game of noteworthy quality was forged at Ashton Gate.
Bears took the spoils 16-10 in that particular outing but were made to sweat for their victory against a strong pack and eager backs.
Sale triumphed 20-11 over Wasps on Tuesday evening in a scrappy affair which might have gone either way while Bears, like so many others, succumbed to the strength of Exeter Chiefs in a hard-fought, 25-22 encounter in which the latter were forced to dig deep for victory.
The result means that Bears are now 11 points adrift of table-toppers Exter on the overall standings but only 3 points ahead of Sale. It thus follows that there is much to play for with a possible changing of the guard on the cards, with regard to 2nd spot, if Sale can make it two victories on the trot.
The above is not an eventuality that Bears would find at all palatable – the opposite being true for Sale – so expect some fiery determination and bruising contact in this one.
Team News
Sale Sharks
World Cup finalists Tom Curry, Faf De Klerk and Manu Tuilagi to make their return against Bristol as Sale Sharks ready themselves for Saturday’s top four showdown with Bristol at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Steve Diamond makes six changes to the his matchday squad ahead of the Bears’ visit to the AJ Bell on Saturday, as the Sharks Director of Rugby chooses to redeploy his international firepower as the club prepares for its first appearance on free-to-air television this weekend.
After an impeccable performance on Tuesday evening, Ross Harrison remains at loose head prop amidst a number of changes in the forwards. Harrison is joined in the front row by South African hooker Akker van der Merwe and the versatile Coenie Oosthuizen who lines up on his preferred side of the scrum this weekend.
The Sharks’ all Springbok second row partnership of Lood De Jager and Jean-Luc du Preez will return to the starting line-up on Saturday afternoon, Du Preez’s twin brother Daniel returns after dropping out prior to the Wasps match with a bout of sickness. The 25-year-old South African international take’s his place at number 8 is joined in a mouth-watering back row by Ben and Tom Curry at blind and openside respectively. Ben Curry will captain the side again this weekend.
World Cup winning scrumhalf Faf De Klerk moves back into the number nine jersey and will marshal the team alongside AJ MacGinty. The USA Eagles fly-half kicked 15 points in his return to Premiership action on Tuesday after suffering a shoulder injury earlier in March.
Manu Tuilagi takes his place at inside centre with the mercurial Sam James outside him. The highly experienced midfield partnership will combine with Denny Solomona and Marland Yarde on the wings, with 21-year old Luke James holding down his spot at full back following his try scoring performance on Tuesday.
Bristol Bears
Jack Bates is set to become the second youngest player to start a game for the club in the top-flight since leagues were introduced in 1987 on Saturday (3pm KO).
The homegrown winger, at 19 years and 95 days, is one of thirteen changes as Bristol visit Sale Sharks in round seventeen.
Only Piers O’Conor and Ed Holmes remain from Tuesday evening, as Bears select nine Bristolians in the squad and ten Academy graduates.
Academy graduate James Dun is also set for his Premiership debut, while fellow Bristolian Charlie Powell could also make his maiden Premiership outing from the replacements bench.
Short-term arrivals Peter McCabe and Keiron Assiratti are listed among the replacements and could make club debuts, while Mitch Eadie could make his first appearance since returning to his hometown club from Northampton Saints.
Line Ups
