Premiership
Team News: Harlequins Squad To Face Newcastle
Harlequins have named their matchday squad for Friday’s Gallagher Premiership fixture against Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park (KO 19:45).
The reshuffled squad features six changes to the Starting XV that lined up against Gloucester in Big Game 15.
In the engine room, Fin Baxter replaces the injured Joe Marler at loosehead, combining with hooker Jack Walker and tighthead Will Collier. Irne Herbst and George Hammond form a fresh second-row partnership, with James Chisholm at blindside flanker and Will Evans resuming at openside. Alex Dombrandt skippers the squad from number eight.
In the backs, Will Porter and Will Edwards start at scrum-half and fly-half. Andre Esterhuizen and Oscar Beard maintain their impressive Big Game partnership, with Cameron Anderson on the left wing and Nick David on the right. Tyrone Green continues at fullback for the six consecutive match.
Amongst the Impact Players, there’s returns for props Jordan Els and Lovejoy Chawatama, back-row Chandler Cunningham-South, scrum-half Max Green and wing Louis Lynagh. Sam Riley and Joe Launchbury provide experience at hooker and second-row, with Lennox Anyanwu adding versatility across the backline.
Director of Rugby Billy Millard commented: “We have a lot of respect for Newcastle. It’s been a massive week preparing for the challenge on Friday night. It’s always a unique and tough match at Kingston Park and we know we’ll need to be at our best to get the result.”
Starting XV:
1. Fin Baxter (38)
2. Jack Walker (51)
3. Will Collier (230)
4. Irne Herbst (34)
5. George Hammond (53)
6. James Chisholm (144)
7. Will Evans (77)
8. Alex Dombrandt (127 – Captain)
9. Will Porter (13)
10. Will Edwards (31)
11. Cameron Anderson (4)
12. Andre Esterhuizen (78)
13. Oscar Beard (43)
14. Nick David (44)
15. Tyrone Green (63)
Impact Players:
16. Sam Riley (42)
17. Jordan Els (32)
18. Lovejoy Chawatama (6)
19. Joe Launchbury (13)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (8)
21. Max Green (4)
22. Lennox Anyanwu (18)
23. Louis Lynagh (54)
Not available for selection (injury): Luke Northmore, Jack Kenningham, Cadan Murley, Jarrod Evans, Tom Lawday, Will Joseph, Cassius Cleaves, Dino Lamb, Joe Marler, Stephan Lewies, Danny Care
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Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
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Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
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Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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