Sale Sharks have named their squad to face domestic and European champions Exeter Chiefs in round eleven of the Gallagher Premiership. World Cup winning duo Lood de Jager and Faf de Klerk return for Sale as Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson makes 11 changes to his starting line-up ahead of the Sharks return to the AJ Bell Stadium. (Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs – Friday 26th February – Kick-off 7:45pm – Live on BT Sport)
There are six changes in a near complete re-shuffle in the pack ahead of Friday’s encounter with Exeter. Academy graduates Bevan Rodd and Curtis Langdon line up alongside Will-Griff John in a new-look Sale front-row. Josh Beaumont and Lood de Jager both return to the starting line-up and add huge experience to the Sale pack. Jono Ross captains the side from blindside flanker and joins Cameron Neild and Daniel du Preez in a mobile Sale back-row.
Faf de Klerk and AJ MacGinty make their first starts for Sale since the Sharks victory over the high-flying Bristol Bears on the 5th February. The mercurial pair have the power and precision of Sam Hill and Sam James at their disposal in midfield with Byron McGuigan, Marland Yarde and Luke James completing the Sharks XV in the back three.
Ewan Ashman, Ross Harrison and Coenie Oosthuizen provide an exciting mix of youth and experience as front row-cover, whilst Cobus Wiese and Sam Dugdale give Alex Sanderson further options in the Sharks pack.
After a lively cameo at The Stoop in his Gallagher Premiership debut, Raffi Quirke is named again as replacement scrum half, he joins Robert du Preez and Simon Hammersley as cover for the backs.
