Harlequins v Sale Sharks Premiership Preview

Harlequins have named their fourth round Aviva Premiership match against Sale Sharks at the Twickenham Stoop have made four changes to the side.

Quins are facing a third six day turnaround in a row ahead of playing Montpellier in the European Challenge Cup at The Stoop next Thursday.

There are four changes to the side that beat Bath Rugby at The Rec last week and Dave Ward starts at hooker, with Luke Wallace coming into the back row.

Charlie Matthews makes his first start of the season in the second-row.

In the one change to the back line, Matt Hopper starts at inside centre.

Among the replacements, James Chisholm will look to make his first appearance of the season.

In injury news, Netani Talei will miss the season due to a significant knee injury, while Mat Luamanu has had surgery on a pectoral injury. The number 8 will be out of action for ten weeks.

Harlequins have won two f their three matches so far in Aviva Premiership Rugby to find themselves in 4th spot in the table.

Quins only loss in their last four encounters at Twickenham Stoop in the tournament was 26-27 to Bath on 8th May.

Sale Sharks have won their last two Aviva Premiership Rugby matches, at home to Worcester and Northampton Saints, but away from home have won only once in the competition since November: 52-12 at London Welsh in February.

Harlequins only defeat to the Sharks in their last nine Premiership Rugby fixtures since 2010 was 12-16 at the Twickenham Stoop in November 2014.

Sale have actually won on their last two visits to the venue in all tournaments.

Meanwhile Sale have named Ross Harrison to make his 100th appearance for Sale Sharks at the age of 23, having made his debut for the side in 2012. Sam Tuitupou, Peter Stringer and Nev Edwards come into the side, replacing Johnny Leota, Chris Cusiter and Will Addison. Edwards and Stringer will make their first starts for Sharks.

Speaking ahead of the game, Director of Rugby Steve Diamond has said,”We need to take our recent home form down to Quins on Friday. It will be a tough game, they have started the season very well and the Stoop is a hard place to go.”

“It’s our second time in London this season and last time we were down there we lost to Saracens, so we need to get that game out of our minds and play like we did on Sunday against Northampton.”

Match : Harlequins v Sale Sharks
Date : Friday 6 November
Venue : Twickenham Stoop,
Kick Off : 7.45pm
Live on: BT Sport
Match Officials
Referee :Tim Wigglesworth (98th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carly and Ashley Rowden
TMO: Sean Davey.

Teams

Harlequins

15. Mike Brown, 14. Marland Yarde, 13. George Lowe, 12. Matt Hopper, 11. Tim Visser, 10. Nick Evans, 9. Danny Care (C), 8. Nick Easter, 7. Luke Wallace, 6. Chris Robshaw, 5. Sam Twomey, 4. Charlie Matthews, 3. Will Collier, 2. Dave Ward ,1. Joe Marler

Replacements :16. Joe Gray, 17. Mark Lambert, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Jack Clifford, 20. James Chisholm, 21. Karl Dickson, 22. Ben Botica, 23. Ollie Lindsay-Hague

Sale Sharks

15. Mike Haley, 14. Tom Arscott, 13. Sam James, 12. Sam Tuitupou, 11. Nev Edwards, 10. Danny Cipriani, 9. Peter Stringer, 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Vadim Cobilas, 4. Jonathan Mills, 5. Bryn Evans, 6. Dan Braid (capt.), 7. TJ Ioane, 8. Josh Beaumont.

Replacements: 16. Neil Briggs, 17. James Flynn, 18. Brian Mujati, 19. Andrei Ostrikov, 20. Magnus Lund, 21. James Mitchell, 22. Nick Macleod, 23. Johnny Leota.