Sale v Northampton: Teams
Sale Sharks are boosted by the return of six players for their Guinness Premiership home game against Northampton on Sunday.
By Rachel Griffiths
Last Updated: 05/03/10 5:09pm
Sale Sharks are boosted by the return of six players for their Guinness Premiership home game against Northampton on Sunday.
Captain Dean Schofield is one of the men welcomed back into Sharks' fold after recovering from a neck problem.
Injury-hit Sharks have had a poor run of form over recent weeks, losing their last seven matches in all competitions, capped off with a dismal 47-3 hammering at Gloucester last weekend.
Director of rugby Kingsley Jones has implored the home crowd at Edgeley Park to show their support for his side in their hour of need.
"The six returning players have helped bring in competition for places and it's the first time in four weeks I've even been able to think about selection because of our injury situation," said Jones.
"I understand entirely that our supporters are hugely disappointed and I know they can vote with their feet but we don't want that to happen. We need the fans to stick together just as much as the players and we need to make them our extra man starting on Sunday."
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Meanwhile, Saints have named Dan Vickerman in a match day squad for the first time for their trip to Edgeley Park.
The Australian lock has been brought in as injury cover for Christian Day, and director of rugby Jim Mallinder believes his experience will make him a valuable addition to the squad.
"Christian's injury at Thomond Park was very unfortunate, but it has meant that we have been able to bring Dan in for the rest of the season," said Mallinder.
"His experience of international and Super 14 knock-out rugby will be good to have around the squad as we go into the final, crucial stages of the season."
Saints, who are second in the standings behind Leicester Tigers, travel to Sale desperate to make up for their last road match, which saw them fall 13-6 to Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop.
"The Quins match was a wake-up call for us and a result that we don't want repeated on Sunday," added Mallinder.
"The Leicester game put us into a great position at the top end of the Premiership, but we now have to build on that at Edgeley Park.
"Sale's squad is full of experienced and quality players, so if we are to get the result we want we will have to impose our game plan and put in a good performance ourselves."
Sale: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Marika Vakacegu, 13 Jonny Kennedy, 12 Lee Thomas, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Dwayne Peel, 1 Eifion Roberts, 2 Neil Briggs, 3 Jack Forster, 4 Chris Jones, 5 Dean Schofield (c), 6 Kristian Ormsby, 7 Carl Fearns, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Gavin Kerr, 18 Rob O'Donnell, 19 Brent Cockbain, 20 David Seymour, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 David Bishop, 23 Dafydd James.
Northampton: 15 Bruce Reihana, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Joe Ansbro, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha, 2 Brett Sharman, 3 Brian Mujati, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (c), 5 Juandre Kruger, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Neil Best, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Regardt Dreyer, 18 Darren Morris, 19 Dan Vickerman, 20 Phil Dowson, 21 Alan Dickens, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Jon Clarke.