England stars to start for Sale Sharks one week after World Cup bronze final
England fly-half George Ford is set to start for Sale Sharks on Friday against Gloucester one week after facing Argentina in the World Cup bronze final at the Stade de France.
Ford came on from the bench to play the final 25 minutes against the Pumas, but is set to start at the Salford Stadium alongside fellow England international Bevan Rodd, who also came on from the bench in Paris.
The loosehead Rodd did not see a huge amount of action during the World Cup, while Ford’s participation in the tournament dwindled once Owen Farrell returned from suspension having had a starring role at the beginning of the tournament.
Argentina hooker Agustin Creevy also came on from the bench in that match, but he too is set to start against the Cherry and Whites in what will be his debut for the Sharks.
England flanker Ben Curry could also make his return from injury in the match, having spent five months out with a hamstring injury.
Gloucester’s only England player at the World Cup, Jonny May, is not part of their squad.
Sale Sharks XV
15. Sam James, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Agustin Creevy, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Dan du Preez.
Replacements
16. Nathan Langdon, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Alex Wills, 23. Tom Ellis.
Gloucester XV
15 Jake Morris, 14 Jack Reeves, 13 Chris Harris (c), 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 George Barton, 9 Charlie Chapman, 1 Val Rapava-Ruskin, 2 Jack Singleton, 3 Kirill Gotovtsev, 4 Freddie Thomas, 5 Arthur Clark, 6 Albert Tuisue, 7 Ben Donnell, 8 Jack Clement
Replacements
16 Santi Socino, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Harry Taylor, 21 Micky Young, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Josh Hathaway
Latest Comments
The weather was dreadful but the playing surface was great so there is no real excuse for such another poor standard of play from both sides. Dragons just the better team. But, what a shocking decision by the TMO not to award the Fifita try. This pretty much sums up Welsh rugby with poor teams and poor officials. The WRU have a lot of work to do and it needs to be done quickly to avoid rugby being lost to our future generations.
Go to commentsNo chance of Borthwick selecting any young talent. He announced his selection policy from the outset with naming a poor OF as Captain, retaining an equally poor Youngs and Vunipola brothers when there were many better EQP in the Premiership. SB revival of Leicester was based on SA muscle and a terrific Welsh flanker he has generally ignored young English talent.
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