England scrum-half Raffi Quirke starts in the Gallagher Premiership for the first time this season, while Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Arron Reed and Ernst van Rhyn also return as Alex makes four changes to his starting XV for the return of Gallagher Premiership action against Exeter Chiefs (KO 5.30pm, Saturday 21st Dec, Live on TNT Sports).
Ben Bamber, Gus Warr and Tom O’Flaherty drop to the Sharks bench while James Harper misses out with a head injury suffered in the Champions Cup win against Racing 92 last time out.
Bevan Rodd, Cowan-Dickie and Opoku-Fordjour team up in a powerful front-row, with van Rhyn and Jonny Hill combining in the second-row.
In the back-row, last week’s player of the match Ben Curry captains the side again, and he’ll be joined by twins Jean-Luc (blindside flanker) and Dan du Preez.
Quirke and George Ford are reunited at half-back and after impressing once again against Racing, Luke James and Rob du Preez go again in the centres.
In the back-three, Scotland winger Reed returns to the side to join Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Tadgh McElroy, Si McIntyre and WillGriff John will cover the front row from the replacements bench, with Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale the other forwards.
Backs Warr, Waisea Nayacelevu and O’Flaherty offer Alex pace and power off the bench.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Luke James, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Raffi Quirke, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. JL du Preez, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Dan du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Ben Bamber, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Waisea Nayacalevu, 23. Tom O’Flaherty.
Match stats:
- Sale Sharks’ last eight fixtures in Gallagher Premiership Rugby have all been won by the home sideon the day.
- The Sharks have won their last nine matches in all competitions at Salford Community Stadium since La Rochelle beat them there in last season’s Champions Cup.
- Exeter Chiefs have lost their last eight Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches since beating Harlequins at Sandy Park in Round 17 last season, that equals their worst ever sequence of league defeats, originally set when they were in Division 3 in 1994/95.
- The last five meetings between the two teams have all gone the way of home field advantage whilst Exeter’s most recent victory at Salford was in October 2021.
