Sharks hoping to widen top four place when they visit Wasps

Sale Sharks take on Wasps at the Ricoh Arena as they aim to strengthen their play-off place.

After victory last time out, Sharks sit fourth in the Gallagher Premiership table, and they have a growing gap of six points between themselves and Northampton Saints in fifth.

Sale will be hoping to end a run of two consecutive away defeats with a win against Wasps, which could see Sharks climb above Harlequins in the table.

They travel to Coventry to face a Wasps side sitting 10^thin what has been an inconsistent season for a side that finished runners-up last season.

Wasps ended a run of four straight defeats last time out, but remain winless in five at home – their last Ricoh Arena win came at the start of January when they beat Exeter Chiefs 34-5.

Team News:

Wasps have named four changes to their side for the visit of Sale.

Kieran Brookes returns to the front row in place of Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, whilst Alfie Barbeary starts at No.8 ahead of Sione Vailanu.

In the backs, Dan Robson is back from Six Nations duty to start at scrum half, with the only other change seeing Matteo Minozzi replace Rob Miller at fullback.

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Former Shark, Paolo Odogwu returns to the bench for Wasps- he too was with England’s Six Nations squad.

Director of Rugby, Alex Sanderson, has made six changes to his Sale Sharks starting line-up.

Cobus Wiese replaces Lood de Jager in the second row, whilst Dan du Preez fills in the absence of Jono Ross in the back row.

In the backs, Raffi Quirke starts at scrum half in place of Faf de Klerk, Marland Yarde replaces Arron Reed and Luke James returns at fullback ahead of Simon Hammersley.

Sharks’ final change sees Rohan Janse Van Rensburg return from injury to start. The inside centre hasn’t featured since before Christmas, after a further set back last month delayed his comeback.

Last time out:

A second-half revival gave Wasps a 20-18 victory over Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

Wasps trailed 18-6 at the break as tries from Marco Fuser and George Wacokecoke cancelled out two Jimmy Gopperth penalties.

However, the visitors asserted total dominance after the restart which saw them deny Newcastle a single second-half point.

Brad Shields powered his way over at the start of the half, and with Newcastle down to 13, Tom West drove his way over from short range to level the score on the hour.

Speaking to BT Sport after their win, Wasps Director of Rugby, Lee Blackett said:

“Going down 18-6 probably helped us come out the shed a little bit more. It took fear away from us as we knew we had to go out and win the game.

“We have to back ourselves. We shouldn’t be a team that lacks confidence.”

A Byron McGuigan hat-trick helped Sale Sharks comfortably defeat London Irish 41-13 at home.

Sharks led by 16 points at the break following a dominant first half which saw tries from Hammersley, de Jager and McGuigan set Sale on their way.

Irish started the second half brightly and scored a penalty inside the first minute, but a loose pass was picked up by Reed who secured the bonus point after 48 minutes.

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The hosts continued to dominate, and despite a Ben Donnell consolation try, two more tries from McGuigan completed his hat-trick and a heavy victory for the Sharks.

In an interview with BT Sport post match, Sanderson said:

“It has been a lot like spinning plates the last 10 weeks as we work on one thing and feel like we have it but then another plate falls off.

“This was the first time I think we have done all aspects well since my tenure here and to finish like that was credit to the boys.”

Last meeting:

Sale Sharks 23-26 Wasps, Gallagher Premiership

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Lima Sopoaga led a second-half comeback as Wasps left the AJ Bell Stadium victorious in December.

The fly half kicked 16 of Wasps’ 26 points scored, which started with an early penalty to open the scoring.

Sharks responded with a penalty of their own, before Yarde outsprinted Odogwu to finish off an excellently worked try. Sharks led 10-3 at half time.

The game was turned around five minutes after the restart following two Wasps tries. Charlie Atkinson first burst through the Sharks line to score, before Tom Cruse was in support to cross the line under the posts.

Three Sopoaga penalties outweighed an AJ MacGinty kick to give Wasps a ten point lead in the final ten minutes, and despite Yarde diving over for his second late on, Wasps held on for the win.