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Virus-hit Sale finally name their XV to face Worcester
Sale Sharks have named their side to face Worcester Warriors in Wednesday’s rearranged Gallagher Premiership match. Following a confirmed 19 positive Covid-19 cases at the club last week, Steve Diamond’s squad options were in short supply.
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There are seven changes from the starting XV that won at Northampton last week, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Manu Tuilagi (injured), Simon Hammersley, Faf de Klerk, Curtis Langdon, Coenie Oosthuizen and Cobus Wiese all missing out.
Akker van der Merwe, Jake Cooper-Woolley and James Phillips, who all came off the bench at Franklin’s Gardens, are also unavailable.
However, the club claim they will field a covid-compliant matchday squad for the re-arranged fixture against Worcester. Valery Morozov, Cameron Neild and Ross Harrison will make up the front row, with Morozov making the switch to tighthead prop for the first time since joining the club.
Jean-Luc du Preez and Matt Postlethwaite combine to form the lock partnership, with Jono Ross, Tom Curry and Daniel du Preez making up the back row.
TEAM NEWS | Our final #GallagherPrem squad of the regular season…#SharkTime | @UKFast pic.twitter.com/2uAVWbOgIk
— Sale Sharks ? (@SaleSharksRugby) October 6, 2020
Will Cliff and Robert du Preez link up in the half-back roles and they will be joined in the backline by Sam Hill and Sam James, who take their places in the midfield after combining for 60 minutes at Franklin’s Gardens following Tuilagi’s early injury in that game. Marland Yarde, Denny Solomona and Luke James complete the backline.
The Sale selection remains subject to the entire squad undergoing further Covid-19 testing on Tuesday. A club statement said: “If the club feels it is not safe to play or receive one additional positive test, Sale will forfeit their Gallagher Premiership round 22 match with Worcester Warriors in order to ensure the health and safety of all concerned.”
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Worcester have made one change from the XV selected for last Sunday’s originally scheduled fixture. Sam Lewis will start on the openside flank in place of Matt Kvesic who has been ruled out by a sore achilles tendon. Matti Williams takes Kvesic’s place on the bench.
The Worcester team announcement media release stated: “A number of Covid-related health and safety matters have yet to be resolved and the fixture still requires the approval of Premiership Rugby, the RFU and Public Health England.”
SALE: 15. Luke James, 14. Denny Solomona, 13. Sam James, 12. Sam Hill, 11. Marland Yarde, 10. Robert du Preez, 9. Will Cliff; 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Cameron Neild, 3. Valerey Morozov, 4. Matt Postlethwaite, 5. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Jono Ross (Capt.), 7. Tom Curry, 8. Daniel du Preez. Reps: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Cal Ford, 18. Joe Jones, 19. Ewan Murphy, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Joe Bedlow, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Connor Doherty.
WORCESTER: 15. Chris Pennell; 14. Melani Nanai, 13. Ollie Lawrence, 12. Scott van Breda, 11. Noah Heward; 10. Billy Searle, 9. Francois Hougaard; 1. Ethan Waller, 2. Beck Cutting, 3. Richard Palframan, 4. Anton Bresler, 5. Andrew Kitchener, 6. Ted Hill (capt), 7. Sam Lewis, 8. Marco Mama. Reps: 16. Niall Annett, 17. Callum Black, 18. Joe Morris, 19. Joe Batley, 20. Matti Williams, 21. Tom Dodd, 22. Gareth Simpson, 23. Jamie Shillcock.
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"Diamond was in his element on a Thursday media Zoom call, never in the slightest imagining the Sale medical emergency that would soon unfold"
– @heagneyl on the last 48 hours at the Premiership club that nearly had its playoff hopes snuffed by Covid ??? https://t.co/ITSnOT3Gue
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 3, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
50 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
50 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
50 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
50 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
50 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
50 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
50 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments