Matchday Live

Sale Sharks

– Sale Sharks have retained a total of 30 kicks so far this season; no other side has kept hold of possession from more. The Sharks’ regular half-back pairing Gus Warr and Robert du Preez have made six and seven respectively – both in the top five for the season.

– Punishing Saracens for not playing in the right areas of the pitch at the weekend, the physicality of the Sale Sharks’ defence is unparalleled in the league. Number eight Dan du Preez has made more dominant tackle contacts than any other player (13) and is joined by four teammates in the top six (Ben Curry, Cobus Wiese, Jean-Luc du Preez, and Tom Curry). Leicester Tigers’ George Martin is the only player at the top of this list who does not herald from the Sharks.

– Robert du Preez is the Premiership’s top points scorer, currently sat on a total of 75.

Gloucester Rugby

– The Cherry-and-Whites have made the fewest carries in the Premiership (494) for a league- low average of 82.3 per 80 minutes.

– Finding any way possible to stop their opposition at source, Gloucester have made more lineout steals (15) than any other side this season. A complete side at set-piece, they have also retained the ball from a league-high 98% of scrums on their own feed.

– Soaking up the pressure of Exeter Chiefs last weekend, Gloucester made a round-high 170 tackles. Gloucester have still made the highest number of tackles in a single game so far this season (227 vs Bath, Round Five).

– The Gloucester back three were electric on Friday night. Santiago Carreras made a round- high total of three clean breaks (= Alex Mitchell) and man of the match Louis Rees-Zammit made two.

Historical

– Sale Sharks have won four of their last five against Gloucester.

– The Cherry-and-Whites are now on a four-match winning streak.