Planet Rugby

Preview: Sale v Harlequins

21st February 2013 12:22

Maurie Fa Asavalu of Harlequins is tackled by Rob Miller and Mark Cueto of Sale

On the Quins flank: Maurie Fa'Asavalu

Premiership champions Harlequins have made two changes to the starting line-up that defeated Leicester Tigers last weekend for their clash at Sale.

In the backs, Karl Dickson returns to start at scrum-half for Danny Care who is on England duty alongside Mike Brown, Joe Marler and Chris Robshaw.

Ben Botica continues at fly-half while Nick Evans recovers from an ankle injury which ruled him out of last week's fixture. Evans will be fit to return next week against the Exeter Chiefs.

In the forwards, Tom Guest has not fully recovered from a knock picked up during the win against Leicester, so captain Nick Easter returns to the back-row alongside Maurie Fa'asavalu and Luke Wallace.

With Botica starting, Rory Clegg returns from Leeds and is named among the replacements.

Meanwhile, Sale Sharks are hoping to maintain their winning run that started four games ago with a win over the Scarlets in the LV= Cup.

Since then, the Sharks have been to Wasps and inflicted their first defeat at Adams Park this season and added the scalps of Exeter Chiefs and London Welsh.

Harlequins however are probably the toughest test yet, having won their last five away games. Their last defeat away from the Stoop was last November when they lost 18-21 to Bath at The Rec.

Cameron Shepherd will play at 15 for Sale as Rob Miller has failed a fitness test.

Sale Sharks: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Charlie Amesbury, 13 Jonny Leota, 12 Sammy Tuitupou, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Will Cliff, 8 James Gaskell, 7 David Seymour (c), 6 Dan Braid, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Tom Holmes, 20 Richie Vernon, 21 Cillian Willis, 22 Nick Macleod, 23 Will Addison.

Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Ben Botica, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 Nick Easter (c), 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 5 George Robson, 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 James Johnston, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Mark Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 Will Collier, 19 Sam Twomey, 20 Joe Trayfoot, 21 Jordan Burns, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 George Lowe.

Kick-off 20:00
Venue: Salford City Stadium
Referee: Martin Fox
Assistant referees: Robin Goodliffe, Gareth Copsey
Assessor: Brian Campsall
Television match official: Tony Turner

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