” **Sale Sharks Starting XV**: 15. Luke James, 14. Arron Reed, 13. Sam James, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. Rob Du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Simon McIntyre, 2. Akker Van Der Merwe, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Ben Curry (C), 8. Jean-Luc du Preez **Replacements**: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Jono Ross, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Joe Carpenter. **OVAL INSIGHTS** **Harlequins** – Despite a heavy defeat by the hand of the Northampton Saints, **Nick David** made more carries (12), metres (121), and clean breaks (two) than any other Harlequins player in Round 14 as well as scoring a try.
“Any of our games against Sale over the last few years have always been very dense, physical games, so we’ve got to get that bit right. You can have all the plans in the world but if you’re not physical then you’re not going to be able to do what you need to get the win against a team like this. “This will be a very different challenge to the Saints game and it’s a contest we’re looking forward to. ” **Harlequins Starting XV:** 15. Nick David, 14.
Harlequins beat Sale 29-13 at Salford City Stadium in October and have not achieved a Premiership Rugby season’s double over the Northerners since 2013/14. The Sharks won on both of their visits to the Stoop last season, 36-14 in Premiership Rugby and 34-29 in the Premiership Rugby Cup. dfg Referee: Wayne Barnes (268th Premiership game). Assistant Referees: Mike Hudson and Jonathan Healy. TMO: Rowan Kitt. Citing Officer: Chris Catling. **Team News – Harlequins** Harlequins’ coaching group has named the matchday squad to host Sale Sharks in Round 15 of the Gallagher Premiership this Sunday – 15:00 kick-off live on BT Sport 1. There are four changes to the starting line-up that fell to defeat against Northampton Saints on New Year’s Day. A physical South African duo of Wilco Louw and Irne Herbst step into starting XV to bring extra weight to the tight five.
WATCH Sale Sharks v Harlequins Live Stream Free Premiership Rugby Cup 07/01/2023**Harlequins v Sale Sharks (Twickenham Stoop, 3pm) – Live on BT Sport** 🔴Watch Live▶️ https://play2tv. live/premiership-rugby/ Harlequins have slipped to back-to-back defeats in Gallagher Premiership Rugby, at home to Bristol and away at Northampton, and have not lost three in succession in the tournament since February. Quins have not lost consecutive Premiership Rugby fixtures at the Twickenham Stoop since November 2021. Sale Sharks only loss in their last four Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches was 14-20 at Newcastle on 23 December. The Sharks have not been victorious away from home in any competition since beating Leicester Tigers 26-16 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on 8 October.
Tom Lawday, 21. Lewis Gjaltema, 22. Will Edwards, 23. Oscar Beard **Team News – Sale Sharks** Alex Sanderson has named an unchanged starting line-up for the trip to Harlequins as his Sharks go in search of another win to follow Friday’s stunning home victory against Premiership champions Leicester Tigers. The only changes to the matchday squad come on the replacements bench where Bevan Rodd and Joe Carpenter return after injury, and academy scrum-half Nye Thomas replaces the now-retired Joe Simpson. Speaking ahead of the clash at the Stoop, the Sale Director of Rugby has warned his players will face a very different challenge against a Quins side who suffered a heavy defeat last time out against Northampton.
Gus Warr and Rob du Preez team up again at half-back with Manu Tuilagi and Tigers man of the match Sam James outside them in the centres. Arron Reed, Tom O’Flaherty and Luke James continue in a pacy back three. Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman, England prop Rodd and James Harper make up the front-row replacements, with Josh Beaumont and Jono Ross covering the rest of the forwards. Thomas, Tom Curtis and fit-again Carpenter complete a strong replacements bench. Speaking ahead of the match, Alex said this weekend’s challenge will be a far cry from the ‘golden night’ at the AJ Bell Stadium against Leicester. He said: “It seemed like all the planets aligned against Leicester to allow us to finish off the year in the way that we wanted. “The difficulty now comes in separating that result and that performance from what we face against Quins.