Sale Sharks name an unchanged side to face Gloucester Rugby following an emphatic performance at Ashton Gate in round 22. Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson opts for consistency in selection as the Sharks look to secure a first home semi-final in over 15 years on Saturday (LIVE on BT Sport – KO 5:45pm).
Following a solid performance in Bristol, Simon McIntyre, Akker van der Merwe and Nick Schonert keep their places in the front row ahead of the Sharks’ trip to Kingsholm.
Jean-Luc du Preez and Jonny Hill line up in the second-row, with Tom Curry, captain Ben Curry and Jono Ross in the back-row.
Gus Warr starts again following a try-scoring appearance last time out; the Sharks academy graduate is named alongside George Ford at half-back, with Manu Tuilagi and Rob du Preez outside them in the centres.
And in an unchanged back three, Tom Roebuck will line up alongside fellow speedsters Tom O’Flaherty and Joe Carpenter.
Ewan Ashman, Bevan Rodd and Coenie Oosthuizen make up the front-row replacements, with Josh Beaumont and Sam Dugdale covering the rest of the forwards.
Homegrown trio Raffi Quirke, Sam James and Arron Reed cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jono Ross.
Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Sam James, 23. Arron Reed.
