Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints Premiership Preview

Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Steve Diamond has named a side with one change for their Aviva Premiership rugby match against Northampton Saints on Sunday

The one change to the starting XV which secured the bonus point over Worcester Warriors last weekend is TJ Ioane starts the game, having impressed coming off the bench against Worcester Warriors with Magnus Lund coming on the bench.

Speaking ahead of the game, Diamond said: “They’re a quality side and well coached by Jim Mallinder ann Dorian West.”

“They have a lot of internationals who have returned to the side and boosted the squad.. They’ve lost up here the last couple of times, so no doubt they’ll be wanting to perform here. ”

“We’ve got to be at our very best to get a result.”

Sale Sharks’ last four Aviva Premiership Rugby matches have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst the Sharks only reversal in their last six fixtures in all competitions at AJ Bell Stadium was 23-25 to Harlequins in Premiership Rugby in April.

Northampton Saints three game losing run in the tournament ended with their 42-16 defeat of Newcastle Falcons at Milton Keynes on Saturday.

The Saints have not been victorious away from home in any tournament since beating Bath 21-13 at the Recreation Ground in Aviva Premiership Rugby in February.

The last five fixtures between the two clubs in Premiership Rugby have all been won by the home side on the day whilst The Saints record at AJ Bell Stadium in their four previous visits in all competitions is an even won two, lost two.

Northampton Saints have made three changes to the starting lineup from that which began last Saturday’s Round 2 win over Newcastle, with Kahn Fotuali’i, Mikey Haywood and Michael Paterson replacing Lee Dickson, Dylan Hartley and Christian Day respectively.

With Dickson beginning the match on the bench Tom Wood has been chosen to lead the team out.

Match : Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
Date : Sunday 1st November
Venue : AJ Bell Stadium,
Kick Off : 2.30pm
Live on:  N.A
Match Officials
Referee : Andrew Small (119th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Gareth Copsey and Andrew Jackson.
TMO: David Grashoff.

Teams

Sale Sharks

15. Mike Haley, 14. Tom Arscott, 13. Johnny Leota, 12. Sam Tuitupou, 11. Will Addison, 10. Danny Cipriani, 9. Chris Cusiter, 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Vadim Cobilas, 4. Bryn Evans, 5. Jonathan Mills, 6. Dan Braid (captain), 7. TJ Ioane, 8. Josh Beaumont

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

Northampton Saints

15 Ben FODEN , 14 Ken PISI , 13 George PISI , 12 Luther BURRELL , 11 Jamie ELLIOTT , 10 Stephen MYLER , 9 Kahn FOTUALI’I , 8 Sam DICKINSON, 7 Tom WOOD (capt) , 6 Jamie GIBSON , 5 Michael PATERSON, 4 Courtney LAWES , 3 Kieran BROOKES , 2 Mikey HAYWOOD, 1 Alex WALLER

Replacements : 16 Dylan HARTLEY , 17 Ethan WALLER , 18 Paul HILL , 19 Christian DAY , 20 Jon FISHER , 21 Lee DICKSON , 22 JJ HANRAHAN , 23 Ahsee TUALA