Sale v Leicester - Aviva Premiership match preview
Sale go in search of their first Aviva Premiership success of the season against the Leicester Tigers tonight.
Last Updated: 05/10/12 2:30pm
The league's bottom club show three changes from the side that suffered a fifth straight defeat of the season at Bath last weekend.
Wing Will Addison replaces Tom Brady, who is serving a two-week suspension, while Scotland international forwards Richie Gray and Richie Vernon both start. Fly-half Danny Cipriani is again on replacement bench duty.
Leicester welcome back scrum-half Ben Youngs, who makes his first appearance since suffering a shoulder injury on England's summer tour to South Africa.
George Ford partners Youngs at half-back instead of Toby Flood, who is on the bench, while centre Manu Tuilagi returns from injury and former London Irish flanker Richard Thorpe makes his Tigers debut.
Sale: 15 R Miller, 14 W Addison, 13 J Leota, 12 S Tuitupou, 11 M Cueto, 10 N Macleod, 9 C Willis, 1 E Lewis-Roberts, 2 T Taylor, 3 T Buckley, 4 R Gray, 5 F McKenzie, 6 R Vernon, 7 D Seymour (capt.), 8 A Powell. Replacements: 16 J Ward, 17 R Harrison, 18 V Cobilas, 19 K Myall, 20 J Gaskell, 21 N Fowles, 22 D Cipriani, 23 M Jennings
Leicester: 15 N Morris, 14 A Thompstone, 13 M Tuilagi, 12 A Allen, 11 V Goneva, 10 G Ford, 9 B Youngs, 1 L Mulipola, 2 T Youngs, 3 M Castrogiovanni, 4 E Slater 5 G Kitchener, 6 J Crane (c), 7 R Thorpe, 8 T Waldrom, Replacements: 16 G Chuter 17 B Stankovich, 18 D Cole, 19 R Andrew, 20 B Deacon, 21 S Harrison, 22 T Flood, 23 M Smith
What they said...
Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill
"The attitude and the application of the squad was first class last week against Exeter, especially with the late problems with injuries and illness which could have disrupted us," commented Cockerill.
"We've made a reasonable start to the season but it's important to keep that going and focus on our own game. We've got a good squad and all of the players will have their opportunities."
Sharks' Director of Rugby Bryan Redpath
"Our last home performance was unacceptable. In some ways, we improved last weekend but still lost the game," Redpath remarked.
"We're against a formidable side in Leicester Tigers, so we've got to restore some pride and play with plenty of passion. Our challenge on Friday is to be at our best."
