Bevan Rodd, Cobus Wiese, JL du Preez, Si McIntyre and Ernst van Rhyn all make their return from injury as Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson picks a strong team to face Premiership leaders Northampton on Friday night in the last mid-season friendly before the resumption of league action.
New signing Hyron Andrews also features on the bench at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, while Tom Curtis celebrates his new three-year contract with a start at fly-half.
Alex has picked an experienced front-row to face Phil Dowson’s Saints, with England loosehead Rodd starting at loosehead after recovering from a toe injury. He’ll line up alongside Tommy Taylor and Nick Schonert.
Wiese teams up with Josh Beaumont in the second-row, while van Rhyn and Sam Dugdale make up a powerful back-row with the returning du Preez at number 8.
Gus Warr starts alongside Curtis in the half-backs with Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and captain Rob du Preez outside them in the centres.
Reed, O’Flaherty and Carpenter make up the rest of Alex’s XV.
Sharks have named another larger than usual bench with new 6’8” lock Andrews, alongside youth in Osian Roberts, James Harper, Tristan Woodman, Obi Ene, Ben Bamber, Will Riley and Joe Bedlow, and seasoned Premiership players Agustin Creevy, Ross Harrison, Si McIntyre, Cam Neild, Raffi Quirke, Sam James and Telusa Veainu.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Tom Curtis, 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Josh Beaumont, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. JL du Preez.
Replacements:
Agustin Creevy, Ross Harrison, Si McIntyre, James Harper, Hyron Andrews, Ben Bamber, Cam Neild, Tristan Woodman, Will Riley, Raffi Quirke, Sam James, Joe Bedlow, Osian Roberts, Obi Ene, Telusa Veainu.
