Alex Sanderson has picked a mix of youth and experience – plus one debutant – for Your Sharks’ pre-season friendly against Connacht Rugby at Heywood Road on Friday night.
Summer recruit Jacques Vermeulen starts against the URC side in a back row packed with power, while England u20s star Ollie Davies starts in the number ten shirt.
Sharks’ England and Lions stars are missing from the team having returned to training late, meaning the ever-present Rob du Preez captains the side from outside centre.
Si McIntyre, Tadgh McElroy and James Harper start in the front row together against Stuart Lancaster’s side, with the towering presence of Hyron Andrews and Ben Bamber behind them in the second-row.
Former Exeter Chiefs forward Vermeulen starts at blindside flanker with Tristan Woodman at openside and Sam Dugdale at number 8.
Scrum-half Raffi Quirke starts alongside Davies at half-back, with Rekeiti Ma’asi-White joining du Preez in the centres.
Tom Curtis lines up at full-back and he’ll have the pace of Obi Ene and Tom O’Flaherty outside him on the wings.
The Sharks bench is packed with young talent, including summer signing Patrick Hogg and back-rower Jos Gilmore, as well as established Gallagher Prem stars including Sam Bedlow.
Starting XV:
15. Tom Curtis, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Obi Ene, 10. Ollie Davies, 9. Rafi Quirke; 1. Simon McIntyre, 2. Tadgh McElroy, 3. James Harper, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Tristan Woodman, 8. Sam Dugdale.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tom Davis, 18. Tumy Onasanya, 19. Patreece Bell, 20. Patrick Hogg, 21. Jos Gilmore, 22. Frank Chatterton, 23. Dom Hanson, 24. Nye Thomas, 25. Sam Bedlow, 26. Joe Bedlow, 27. Toby Wilson, 28. Albert Bradshaw.
