Powell back to face the Saints
17 Feb 2012
Powell in action on Boxing Day (photo: Graham Moore Grundy, a6 Photography)
Number 8 Andy Powell returns from duty with Wales to the Sale Sharks starting fifteen for the Aviva Premiership match against Northampton Saints at Franklins Gardens on Saturday (kick off 3 p.m.).
Richie Vernon replaces the injured Hendre Fourie at blind side flanker as the only other change in the starting fifteen from last weekend's game against Worcester Warriors.
Sharks: 15.Rob Miller, 14.Tom Brady, 13.Johnny Leota, 12.Sam Tuitupou (capt.), 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Nick Macleod, 9.Dwayne Peel, 1.Andrew Sheridan, 2.Marc Jones, 3.Tony Buckley, 4.Andrei Ostrikov, 5.James Gaskell, 6.Richie Vernon, 7.David Seymour, 8.Andy Powell.
Replacements: 16.Joe Ward, 17.Ross Harrison, 18.Vadim Cobilas, 19.Kearnan Myall, 20.Mark Easter, 21.Cillian Willis, 22.Will Addison, 23.Luther Burrell.
Looking ahead to Saturday's game, Sharks' Head Coach Tony Hanks said, "We're really looking forward to it and there aren't too many changes to the squad. We've trained well again and know we need to play well to come away with the points. We feel we drew a lot of positives from the Worcester game but know we need to keep building on the way we defend, and be more clinical when we have possession of the ball."
Saints welcome back Courtney Lawes, Calum Clark and Paul Doran Jones, all released by England.
Saints: 15.Paul Diggin, 14.Vasily Artemyev, 13.George Pisi, 12. James Downey, 11. Noah Cato, 10.Stephen Myler, 9. Martin Roberts, 1. Soane Tonga'uiha, 2. Mike Haywood, 3. Brian Mujati, 4. Samu Manoa,
5.Christian Day, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Calum Clark (capt.), 8. Roger Wilson.
Replacements 16. Andy Long,17. Alex Waller, 18.Paul Doran Jones, 19. Mark Sorenson, 20. Ben Nutley, 21. Ryan Glynn, 22. Ryan Lamb, 23 Tom May.
"We were disappointed last week because we played some good rugby, especially in the second half," Saints' Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder said. "We've had to look at ourselves and work on a few things this week, especially our accuracy, which we need to get right. That said, it was a good bonus point to win at Gloucester and it is something we can take into this weekend's game and build on.
"Because the Aviva Premiership table is so close at the moment every game is massively important. We got a losing bonus point away from home last week but it's a home game for us tomorrow and we need to win it.
"Sale is one of a number of teams just behind us in the table and are looking for a playoff spot. So it's important that we get a win this weekend."
Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)
John Everton will keep you up to date from Franklins Gardens via Twitter, and will be posting half time and full time scores on this site. Following the game, there'll be a considered report and action shots.
