Manu Tuilagi returns to face his former club and a double portion of post-Christmas Curry is on the menu at the AJ Bell Stadium as Alex Sanderson names his Sharks side to face Leicester Tigers on Friday night (December 30, KO 7.45pm – live on BT Sport).
Twins Ben and Tom both start against the side coached by former Sale scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, while Akker van der Merwe and Sam James also return to the side after missing the pre-Christmas defeat at Newcastle.
On the replacements bench scrum-half Joe Simpson features for the final time as he brings the curtain down on a glittering 15 year career.
Bevan Rodd misses out again after sustaining an injury in the warm-up at Kingston Park, so Si McIntyre and Nick Schonert start in the front-row either side of hooker van der Merwe.
Cobus Wiese and Jonny Hill continue their second-row partnership and they’re supported by Tom Curry at 6, captain Ben Curry at 7 and Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
Gus Warr and Rob du Preez continue their half-back partnership and Tuilagi and James return outside them in the centres.
With Tom Roebuck and Joe Carpenter still missing, Arron Reed, Tom O’Flaherty and Luke James continue in the back three.
Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman, club stalwart Ross Harrison and James Harper make up the front-row replacements, with Josh Beaumont and Jono Ross covering the rest of the forwards.
Simpson, Tom Curtis and Byron McGuigan complete a strong replacements bench.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Luke James, 14. Arron Reed, 13. Sam James, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. Rob Du Preez ©, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Simon McIntyre, 2. Akker Van Der Merwe, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Ben Curry, 8. Jean-luc du Preez
Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Jono Ross, 21. Joe Simpson, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Byron McGuigan
