TEAM NEWS: SARACENS vs SALE SHARKS
Alex Sanderson has made four changes to his Sharks side for the trip to the StoneX Stadium on Sunday.
Bevan Rodd and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White both miss out with injury while Xavier Roe, who impressed on his league debut last weekend, has returned to New Zealand for the birth of his first child.
The other change sees Nathan Jibulu replace Luke Cowan-Dickie, while Fijian winger Ponipate Loganimasi is set for his first league appearance off the replacements bench.
Despite the absence of the England pair, the Sharks Director of Rugby is able to select a powerful front row combination to face Brendan Venter’s side with Welsh international Nicky Smith stating his first game alongside Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Jibulu.
The rest of the pack is unchanged with skipper Ernst van Rhyn and Ben Bamber starting together in the second row and Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry and Jacques Vermeulen teaming up in the back row.
Gus Warr replaces Roe at scrum half, with George Ford at fly-half and former Saracen Lozowski and Joe Marchant outside them in the centres.
In the back three, wingers Tom O’Flaherty and Arron Reed start once again either side of full-back Joe Carpenter.
Ethan Caine is the replacement hooker with the experienced pair of Si McIntyre and Welsh international Tomas Francis the props in reserve.
Christ Tshiunza and Elia Canakaivata are the other forwards on the bench with scrum-half Dom Hanson, Marius Louw and Flying Fijian Loganimasi, who is set for his first PREM appearance, the other backs named as replacements.
Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter
14. Tom O’Flaherty
13. Joe Marchant
12. Alex Lozowski
11. Arron Reed
10. George Ford
9. Gus Warr
1. Nicky Smith
2. Nathan Jibulu
3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour
4. Ernst van Rhyn (c)
5. Ben Bamber
6. Courtney Lawes
7. Tom Curry
8. Jacques Vermeulen
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine
17. Si McIntyre
18. Tomas Francis
19. Christ Tshiunza
20. Elia Canakaivata
21. Dom Hanson
22. Marius Louw
23. Ponipate Loganimasi
Unavailable for selection:
Luke James (hamstring)
Tom Roebuck (calf strain)
Ben Curry (hamstring)
Bevan Rodd (wrist)
Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (knee)
Xavier Roe (returned home)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Knee)
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