Sale Sharks announce nine changes to their matchday 23 after defeat to league leaders Exeter Chiefs in round 15, as Director of Rugby Steve Diamond rotates his squad ahead of the club’s first mid-week fixture.
The Sharks take on Wasps at the Ricoh Arena tomorrow evening live on BT Sport, and Diamond has taken the opportunity to rotate his squad for the first time since the Gallagher Premiership returned to action two weeks ago.
An almost complete change of personnel in the forwards sees Ross Harrison, Curtis Langdon and Jake Cooper-Woolley take their places in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s match. James Phillips and Matt Postlethwaite replace Lood de Jager and Jean-Luc du Preez in a powerful second row combination for tomorrow’s trip to Coventry, du Preez remains involved and takes his place as a replacement on an experienced bench.
A back row including academy graduates Cameron Neild and Ben Curry alongside South African international Daniel du Preez completes a new look pack for the Tuesday night fixture.
Will Cliff makes his first post lockdown start at scrum half and pairs up with AJ MacGinty for the first time this season after both players impressed from the bench on Friday night. The experienced half-back combination have the talents of Rohan Janse van Rensburg outside them with the 17 stone South-African returning to his usual position of inside centre having completed a 2 match suspension. England U20 captain Connor Doherty joins the powerful Springbok in midfield on his first Premiership start.
22-Year old Arron Reed also makes his first Gallagher Premiership start this season alongside Doherty, the winger replaces Bryon McGuigan who suffered a hamstring strain last Friday night. The electric academy prospect is joined in the back three by first team stalwarts Denny Solomona and Luke James.
Wasps Team:
15 Matteo Minozzi
14 Zach Kibirige
13 Malakai Fekitoa
12 Jimmy Gopperth
11 Josh Bassett
10 Jacob Umaga
9 Dan Robson
1 Ben Harris
2 Tommy Taylor
3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen
4 Joe Launchbury
5 Will Rowlands
6 Jack Willis
7 Thomas Young
8 Brad Shields
16 Tom Cruse
17 Tom West
18 Jack Owlett
19 Tim Cardall
20 Sione Vailanu
21 Ben Vellacott
22 Charlie Atkinson
23 Ryan Mills
