Sale Sharks vs Gloucester: Sharks searching for fourth straight home win

Gallagher Premiership action returns as Sale Sharks host strugglers Gloucester at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Victory for Sale would see them record a fourth consecutive home win. With Sharks 3rd in the table, the North West side will be aiming to avoid any slip-ups so they can turn their attention to leapfrogging Exeter Chiefs into a home semi-final place.

At the opposite end of the table, Gloucester have won just three of their last 24 games and sit just seven points ahead of Worcester Warriors at the bottom.

They can breathe a sigh of relief however, with no side to be relegated from the Premiership this season- due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Regardless the Cherry and Whites will be aiming to avoid finishing rock bottom and instead start a late climb up table.

Team news:

Sale Sharks director of rugby, Alex Sanderson has named six changes to his starting line-up.

Ross Harrison and Coenie Oosthuizen return either side of Akker van der Merwe in the front row, with the only other forward change seeing JP du Preez replace Josh Beaumont in the second row.

In the backs, Rob du Preez returns at fly half with Arron Reed and Luke James replacing Byron McGuigan and Simon Hammersley in the back three.

For Gloucester, England international, Jonny May will make his 150^th club appearance in a side that sees four changes named to their starting line-up.

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Three changes in the forwards pack sees Jack Singleton replace Henry Walker at hooker, whilst Alex Craig starts in the second row and Jack Clement lines up in the back row.

The impressive Charlie Chapman starts at scrum half with Six Nations winner, Louis Rees-Zammit returning to the wing in the only other change.

Last time out:

Sale Sharks were heavily defeated, 45-21, by La Rochelle last weekend as they were knocked out the European Champions Cup at the quarter-final stage.

The game in France started cautiously with both sides opting to kick multiple penalties which saw the score tied at 6-6 having played half an hour.

The game livened up 10 minutes before the break as two La Rochelle tries looked to have deflated Sharks, but a Sam James try with the clock in red gave the visitors a lifeline as the teams went in separated by two points.

However, a dominant second half performance saw the French outfit run riot as Raymond Rhule and Geoffrey Doumayrou each scored twice, with Sharks’ only second half score coming from McGuigan who’s consolation try finished off a fine Sale move.

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Similarly, on their last outing, Gloucester were knocked out the Champions Cup by La Rochelle as they fell to a 27-16 home defeat in Round 16.

The French side led by two points at the break after two visitors tries were reduced by a converted Johan Ackermann try 10 minutes before the interval.

In the second half though the teams were easily separated as La Rochelle comfortably kicked their to progression after four penalties were only answered by one from the Cherry and Whites who fell to an 11-points loss.

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A late Beaumont try completed a second half Sale fightback as they started the New Year with a victory at the Kingsholm.

After a penalty from both sides, Gloucester scored the games first try when Fraser Balmain crashed over from a well worked driving maul.

A succession of penalties saw Gloucester build an 11-6 lead, before Rees-Zammit showed his electric pace to dive over, taking advantage of Sale being temporarily down to 14 following Jono Ross’ yellow card.

Despite trailing 16-9 at the break, Sharks’ second half revival started early with two AJ MacGinty penalties to move the visitors to within a point of the Cherry and Whites with 20 minutes to play.

Gloucester extended their lead to four points from the tee, but with three minutes remaining, a driving maul led to a series of pick and go’s, from which Beaumont was able to force himself over to snatch victory for Sharks.