Paul Deacon has named his squad to face Gloucester Rugby in round five on the Gallagher Premiership. The Sale Sharks head coach makes six changes to the team defeated by Wasps in round four, as Jono Ross, Josh Beaumont and Byron McGuigan all return to action for Sale at Kingsholm this weekend. (Saturday 2nd January – Kick-off 4:30pm Live on BT Sport)
Bevan Rodd is rewarded for his solid form in the Heineken Champions Cup with a start in the Gallagher Premiership as the academy prop joins Springboks Akker van der Merwe and Coenie Oosthuizen in the front row. The powerful lock partnership of Cobus Wiese and JP du Preez slots in behind them for the trip to Kingsholm.
Jono Ross returns to the starting XV for the first time in three weeks. The Sharks club captain is joined in the back-row y last week’s standout performer Tom Curry at openside flanker and the towering Daniel du Preez at number 8.
Faf de Klerk and AJ MacGinty continue to marshal the team at half-back and have an unchanged centre partnership of Sam Hill and Robert du Preez outside them. Sale Sharks name England U20 wing Tom Roebuck in their starting line-up for the first time this season, and the academy star is named alongside Marland Yarde and Sam James in the back three for tomorrows match.
On the bench, Curtis Langdon continues to provide further options at hooker, whilst Jake Cooper-Woolley and Coenie Oosthuizen cover the front-row. Josh Beaumont makes a welcome return to the Sale matchday squad as he is named as second-row replacement. Byron McGuigan also returns to the Sale squad after suffering a hamstring injury in the first game of the season.
