Sharks Hall of Famer Ross Harrison starts for the first time this season after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Fiji skipper Waisea Naycalevu also starts as Sharks Senior Academy Coach Gareth Harris names a mix of youth and experience for the final pool stage game in this season’s Premiership Rugby Cup against Newcastle Falcons.
Sharks Academy stars Patreece Bell, Dom Hanson and Alfie Longstaff are also involved in a first team squad for the first time, with Ireland U20s prop Bell joining Harrison in the front row. England props Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour feature on the bench.
Harris makes two changes to his front-row after last weekend’s defeat at home to Doncaster as the fit-again Harrison replaces Bevan Rodd. The loosehead lines up with hooker Tadgh McElroy and Isle of Man native Bell.
Ben Bamber and Jonny Hill team up in an abrasive second-row while in the back-row, Sharks Academy product Jos Gilmore will have the experience of openside Sam Dugdale and number 8 JL du Preez alongside him.
Scrum-half Nye Thomas and skipper Tom Curtis start at half-back with Sam Bedlow and Nayacalevu in the centres.
In the back-three, wingers Arron Reed and Alex Wills start alongside England U20s star Ollie Davies at full-back.
Academy hooker Longstaff, Rodd and Opoku-Fordjour are the front-row replacements, with first-team regulars Hyron Andrews and Dan du Preez the other forwards on the bench.
England U20s scrum-half Hanson joins Will Addison and Joe Carpenter on the bench.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Ollie Davies, 14. Arron Reed, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Alex Wills, 10. Tom Curtis ©, 9. Nye Thomas, 8. JL du Preez, 7. Sam Dugdale, 6. Jos Gilmore, 5. Jonny Hill, 4. Ben Bamber, 3. Patreece Bell, 2. Tadgh McElroy, 1. Ross Harrison.
Replacements:
16. Alfie Longstaff, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Dan du Preez, 21. Dom Hanson, 22. Will Addison, 23. Joe Carpenter.
Match officials:
Referee: Jack Makepeace
AR1: Jamie Leahy
AR2: Gregg Dawson
