Sale Sharks v Newcastle preview: Team news, kick-off time, line-ups, odds and stats for the Aviva Premiership clash - Ruck

Sale Sharks v Newcastle preview: Team news, kick-off time, line-ups, odds and stats for the Aviva Premiership clash

  • Sale and Newcastle kick off Saturday’s Aviva Premiership action at the AJ Bell Stadium: 14:30 kick-off
  • The Sharks have made seven changes after resting a number of first-team players for their European game against Pau
  • Marcus Watson starts his first Premiership game for Newcastle after his four tries against Enisei-STM.
Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond has recalled Danny Cipriani to his starting XV for their clash with Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday.

READING, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Danny Cipriani of Sale looks on during the Aviva Premiership match between London Irish and Sale Sharks at Madejski Stadium on April 12, 2015 in Reading, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)

Cipriani joins Dan Braid, Vadim Cobilas and Sam Tuitupou in coming into the side, plus Eifion Lewis Roberts is set to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in pre-season.

Meanwhile, the Falcons, who sit bottom of the table and are yet to pick up a point in the league this season, have made five changes in total from the side that brushed aside Russian team Enisei STM in the Challenge Cup last weekend.

The changes see a wealth of experience return to the side, with four new faces in the backs and one in the pack adding 84 international caps to the team while they also hand a first Aviva Premiership start to wing-wizard Marcus Watson.


Check out RUCK’s Aviva Premiership predictions here.

KEY STATS
  • Sale’s only loss at AJ Bell Stadium in Premiership Rugby in 2015 was 23-25 to Harlequins in April
  • The Sharks have won their last three Aviva Premiership Rugby contests with Newcastle
  • Newcastle have lost all four matches so far this season
  • The Falcons only win away from home in the Premiership since October 2013 came at London Welsh in 11 October 2014

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sale Sharks: Danny Cipriani

One of England’s most mercurial talents, Danny Cipriani has always shown promise without consistently delivering on his world class potential. The 27-year-old fly-half has relished his starring role at the AJ Bell Stadium and will be crucial to Steve Diamond’s cause this weekend.


Newcastle: Marcus Watson

Watson makes his first Premiership start off the back of a blistering performance against Enisei in the European Challenge Cup that saw him show a full array of skills on his way to four tries, for twenty of his team’s 55 points on the afternoon.


Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Tom Arscott, 13 Sam James, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Will Addison, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Josh Beaumont, 7 Magnus Lund, 6 Dan Braid (c), 5 Jonathan Mills, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Cameron Neild, 17 Eifion Lewis Roberts, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Andrei Ostrikov, 20 TJ Ioane, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Mark Jennings.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Michael Young, 8 Nili Latu, 7 Will Welch, 6 Mark Wilson, 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Calum Green, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Rob Vickers.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Taione Vea, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Ruki Tipuna, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Chris Harris.


Date: Saturday 28 November
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Peter Allan, Robin Goodliffe
TMO: Trevor Fisherfirst Aviva Premiership