Alex Sanderson has named his side as Sale Sharks prepare to face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Sunday. Sale travel south to face fourth-placed Exeter in round 19 of the Gallagher Premiership with Sanderson’s men looking to extend their six-game unbeaten run with a result against Rob Baxter’s Chiefs.
England International Bevan Rodd returns to action for the Sharks after international duty and is named in the Sale front-row alongside Scotland’s Ewan Ashman and Springbok Coenie Oosthuizen. The imposing trio are bolstered this week by the power of Cobus Wiese and Lood de Jager at lock.
Wiese replaces Jean-Luc du Preez in the second-row this week as the South African powerhouse moves back to his preferred position at blindside flanker. Du Preez is joined in the Sharks back-row by captain Jono Ross, who lines up on the openside, with twin brother Daniel in his usual position of number 8.
Raffi Quirke is rewarded for his electric cameo against London Irish with a start at scrum-half. The 20-year-old replaces World Cup winner Faf de Klerk and joins talisman AJ MacGinty at half-back.
An unchanged centre partnership of Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Robert du Preez provide power and prowess in midfield against the former Premiership champions, whilst speedsters Arron Reed and Tom Roebuck will be looking to extend their try-scoring run from either wing. Sam James retains his place at full-back.
On the bench, Curtis Langdon, Simon McIntyre and Joe Jones provide steady front-row cover for the Sharks whilst the towering J.P du Preez and Ben Curry also offer Sanderson options in the forwards.
Faf de Klerk, Luke James and Byron McGuigan provide bags of experience as cover for the Sale back-line.
Players note not available through injury:
James Harper – 2 Weeks, Josh Beaumont – 3-4 Weeks, Simon Hammersley – 3-4 Weeks, Nick Schonert – 3-4 Weeks, Akker van der Merwe – 4 Weeks
