Sale Sharks have named their squad to face Edinburgh Rugby in round two of the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup. Richard Cockerill’s side will head south to the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday to face Sale Sharks in the first ever competitive fixture between the two clubs. (Kick-off 8:00pm – Live on BT Sport)
Paul Deacon makes eleven personnel changes to Sharks matchday 23 that travelled to Toulon in round one, Sam Dugdale, Faf de Klerk, and Sam James all return to the starting XV after impressing off the bench in France.
Senior academy prop Bevan Rodd keeps his place in the starting line-up for round two and is named alongside Jake Cooper-Woolley and Akker van der Merwe in the Sale front row. Springbok Van der Merwe will play against his younger brother Duhan for the first time in their professional careers when he takes to the field on Saturday.
New signing JP du Preez is set to make his Sale Sharks debut as he is deployed in the second row for the first time alongside Matt Postlethwaite. Cobus Wiese, Sam Dugdale and Jean-Luc du Preez make up the Sharks back-row at six, seven and eight respectively.
World Cup winner Faf de Klerk returns alongside fellow countryman Robert du Preez with the pair making their first appearance together at half back this season. Sam Hill starts at inside centre with Springbok powerhouse Rohan Janse van Rensburg outside him at thirteen. Marland Yarde and Denny Solomona are named on the wing with Sam James stepping in at full back to complete an experienced Sale back three.
Curtis Langdon, Ross Harrison and Coenie Oosthuizen are included as front-row replacements with James Phillips and the returning Cameron Neild covering the back five. Will Cliff, Conor Doherty and Luke James provide additional options in the backs.
