Sharks hoping to return to winning ways against Irish

Sale Sharks welcome top four hopefuls London Irish to the AJ Bell Stadium, as they aim to get back to winning ways.

A response is needed from the hosts who still sit 4^th despite defeat last time out. Against Irish, Sharks have an excellent record, which has seen them win all seven of the last meetings – Sale’s last defeat [25-23] to Irish was in 2015.

Irish travel to the North West two points behind Sale, knowing a win would see them leapfrog Sunday’s hosts into the top four.

However, Irish have only managed one away win in the Gallagher Premiership this campaign which came in February when they overcame Wasps 16-10.

Team news:

Sale Sharks have named six changes to their starting line-up.

Director of Rugby, Alex Sanderson, has made front-row changes as Akker van der Merwe is joined by Bevan Rodd and Coenie Oosthuizen who replace Ross Harrison and WillGriff John.

Josh Beaumont returns to partner Lood de Jager in the second row, whilst Cameron Neild starts alongside captain, Jono Ross and Jean-Luc du Preez in the back row.

In the backs, Rob du Preez replaces AJ MacGinty at fly half, Connor Doherty starts at centre, whilst the back three of Byron McGuigan, Aaron Reed and Simon Hammersley remains unchanged.

London Irish Director of Rugby, Declan Kidney, has made one change to his side. 20-year-old, Ben Donnell replaces Blair Cowan at openside-flanker.

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In the backs, Irish’s top try scorer, Curtis Rona (4) starts at outside-centre with their top points scorer (108), Paddy Jackson at fly half.

Two former Sharks are in the travelling Irish squad. Matt Rogerson captains Irish at blindside-flanker and ex-Academy graduate George Nott is on the bench.

Last time out:

Sale Sharks fell to a 17-14 away defeat to Northampton Saints.

A slow first-40 from Sharks saw them trail 8-0 at the break, after Teimana Harrison crossed mid-way through the half.

James Grayson widened Saints’ lead from the tee before tries from Jean-Luc du Preez and Lood de Jager set up a Sale comeback.

Despite an impressive performance from Academy graduate, Raffi Quirke off the bench in the final 20 minutes, Sharks were unable to reduce the three point margin as they left with a losing bonus point. Speaking to the Sale Sharks director, Sanderson said:

“There was a lot of frustration post game as we didn’t take advantage of countless opportunities, and in the end we came away with very little.

“Irish have the most turnovers at the breakdown in the league so we need to be sharp with our ball carrying and our urgency to keep the ball and keep it quick.”

Last time out, Irish won narrowly at home, 20-17, against bottom of the table Worcester Warriors in what was a game of two halves.

The Exiles dominated the first half after tries from Ben Meehan and Steve Mafi gave them a 17-3 lead at the interval.

However, an early Niall Annett try was followed up by a late Justin Clegg try to level the game, before Jackson’s penalty seven minutes from the end earnt Irish victory.

“It was a really impressive defensive effort from the boys,” said Kidney in an interview with London Irish, “From a technical and tactical point of view, there’s definitely things we need to look at, but a win is a win and we worked hard to get it. The boys deserve credit for that.”

Last meeting:

London Irish 13-21 Sale Sharks, Gallagher Premiership

MacGinty guided Sharks to victory at the Brentford Community Stadium in front of 2,000 supporters back in December.

An early MacGinty penalty was added to by a Rohan Janse van Rensburg try mid-way through the half, after the centre turned finely and dived over following a quickly taken 5m penalty.

Penalties from both fly half’s set the score to 13-6 in Sharks’ favour, but the sides went in level at the break when Jackson’s run in behind set up Rona to cross unchallenged.

Sale started the second half brightly and were back ahead within two minutes when van der Merwe crashed over off the back of a well worked lineout maul.

MacGinty’s penalty on the hour- totalling 11 points in the match- wrapped up the game for Sharks who won by eight points.