Aviva Premiership: Exeter Chiefs travel to Newcastle Falcons; Sale Sharks host Wasps

Sunday’s Aviva Premiership double bill sees rising stars Exeter Chiefs travel to face Newcastle Falcons, while the struggling Sale Sharks host Wasps at the AJ Bell Stadium.

After claiming the club’s first piece of major silverware last term, beating Northampton Saints in the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup, Exeter have already claimed the scalps of Gloucester and Harlequins; now victory over Newcastle could see them draw level with leaders Bath.

Last season, it was Sale who were involved in a late charge towards the Premiership playoffs but with just one win so far this term they are in need of an upturn against Wasps, who have also endured a chequered start to the campaign, if they are to make progress up the ladder.

Chiefs hunt Falcons

Rob Baxter’s Chiefs have won all but one of their four Premiership encounters - narrowly edged out by Leicester Tigers – and a bonus-point win at Kingston Park on Sunday will see them move level with Bath at the Premiership summit.

A 36-13 triumph over Harlequins at Sandy Park last time out, Thomas Waldrom, Jack Yeandle and Henry Slade chalking up the tries, provided evidence of the significant strides made by the Devonshire side and they will look to further stamp their authority on the competition with another emphatic victory over the languishing Falcons.

Newcastle already appear to be locked in a relegation battle with London Welsh having yet to register a win this season, in fact, they have been defeated in their last 20 Premiership outings – the third-worst losing sequence in the history of the tournament.

With Stuart Lancaster, the England head coach, set to name his squad for the autumn internationals in coming weeks, a number of Chiefs prodigies will be desperate to force their way onto his radar.

Centre Slade continues to ply his trade in midfield having been backed for a chance at partnership Manu Tuilagi in the England midfield, while bulldozing No 8 Waldrom will aim to continue his explosive start to the season.

England winger Jack Nowell will sit out the clash, however, with medical staff unwilling to risk him on the Kingston Park 4G surface after his recent return from injury.

His absence is one of several changes from Baxter with Welsh international Tom James coming onto the wing, while Ian Whitten and Don Armand come into the starting XV.

For the Falcons, Alex Tait gets the nod full-back and is joined by Samoan international Sinoti Sinoti and Noah Cato in the back three.

Gonzalo Tiesi and Adam Powell team up in midfield while Juan Pablo Socino and last weekend’s scorer Ruki Tipuna form the axis pairing behind an unchanged pack.

Wasps out to sting Sharks

In Sunday’s other clash, Wasps will aim to find some consistency as they travel to Manchester for a clash with Sale Sharks.

The London-based side have impressed with victories over reigning champions Northampton Saints and Newcastle, as well as agonising defeats to Saracens and Harlequins.

Their mixed start puts leaves them fifth in the Premiership standings but director of rugby Dai Young will be eager to see them record successive wins for the first time this campaign.

Meanwhile, Steve Diamond's Sale have only won once so far in the Premiership, beating newly-promoted London Welsh in the second round of fixtures.

In a bid to find form, Diamond brings fit-again hooker Marc Jones back into the starting line-up, while Wasps will come up against a familiar face at No 10.

Former Wasps flay-half Danny Cipriani starts alongside Chris Cusiter in the half-backs and is another man eager to impress England coach Lancaster, while winger Mark Cueto continues his comeback from injury from the bench.

Ahead of their trip north, Young has made a raft of changes to his Wasps side, with seven alterations from the team which beat Newcastle last time out.

It means there are starts for Christian Wade, Chris Bell, Will Helu, Charlie Davies, John Yapp, Guy Thompson and Nathan Hughes.