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England stars to start for Sale Sharks one week after World Cup bronze final

02 Nov 2023

England's fly-half George Ford celebrates after winning the France 2023 Rugby World Cup third-place match between Argentina and England at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 27, 2023. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

England post-match presser – third-place play-off

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England post-match presser – third-place play-off

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

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Comments on RugbyPass

johnz 31 minutes ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

You risk very much rewarding effort, loyalty, and commitment over talent, performance and potential. That’s fine for a 1980s rugby club, but that’s not how professional sport works. A few points on that:

I didn’t get the impression NZR made a big effort to keep Leicester in the country, despite his undeniable talent, which overseas professional clubs could easily spot.

Yet they certainly threw a good chunk of money at Ioane. Because he’s been loyal. And disappointing. I suspect NZR offered way below Leicester’s market value because he didn’t pass some abstract loyalty or service test.

So he took the option to go where he’s valued at fair market value.

We risk losing a lot of young talent to overseas clubs, because they can see older players get the best contracts based on hierarchy and service.

And these abstract rules don’t exactly encourage these highly valued professionals to return, because they know that when they get back, they are not even eligible for the national team. Because they don’t deserve it, apparently.

40 Go to comments

Jfp123 44 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Some positions have greater need of depth building than others. Imo, 9 has plenty of depth, but not 10. So I wouldn’t worry so much about Le Garrec, who is a fabulous player who would walk into most international teams, but I would be searching for a better back up for Ntamack and Ramos in 10.

Who that would be, I’m not sure. Galthier chose Segonds and Hastoy for the NZ tour, and what restrictions on selection and what larger aims led him to do so, I couldn’t say, of course. Personally, I think it was correct not to take MJ, as I think a new back up 10 needs to be found.

Probably no candidate will have such individual brilliance in attack as MJ, but then French A has plenty of attacking flair anyway. For some of the skills I think are needed in a 10, see the list in my previous comment.

329 Go to comments

CO 58 minutes ago

New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

I think so

97 Go to comments

BC 1 hour ago

What improvements can we expect to see from Wales in Australia Tests?

Bit of a setback for Australia losing to Wales, though having watched the second half Australia dominated but didn’t turn that dominance into points. It was a combination of dogged defence, a spluttering lineout but most importantly an inability to hold on to the ball. Admittedly in that weather it was probably like a piece of soap. They will hope for dry conditions next week. I thought they would win by 20 points this week.

2 Go to comments

TI 1 hour ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

Great job NZR. First you drove him away, and now you punish him for returning.

Vengeful little teenage sorority club.

40 Go to comments

Howbzr76 1 hour ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

Aah yes he should. He chose the big bux up north, local boys deserve priority imo. Money or prestige 🤔🤔

40 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

I don't know the numbers you are talking about. The study which I was talking about is coming directly from the insurance numbers, so I think FFR have it. I don't know NZ or British laws very well but I think legal responsability is not exactly the same in France. Individual responsability is not enough admited by the courts in France and I think that is why this subject is ,perhaps, more on the table for FFR and LNR.

For the tackler's concussion, they are include in the numbers but I think they are not separate. Does these laws increase the tacklers concussion ? I don't know. But we saw in the last NZ FR séries that with the current rules there are allready some head on the hip and even a head on Woki's knee…

230 Go to comments

Howbzr76 2 hours ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

I agree- he just got back to nz, and he’s eligible straight away??Building solid combinations takes years, if players want to put profit before championships then honestly each to their own- but don't expect to come back home, when others have been doing the hard grind locally, to just walk into any rep team. The jersey HAS to be earnt on merit, not just some decent form in the past. Winning tests is not everything. Our lads who choose to play here, foregoing the money overseas deserve priority. Do the Hard grind, it’s the k1w1 way.

40 Go to comments

J Marc 2 hours ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

In France rugby at school is very rare.

The more often, it's a seven version on a reduce pitch. Sports teachers favorite sport is handball and it's a blessing for it and a problem for the others. So it's hard to compare. I think the NZ school rugby system you describe is close to the french one in lower levels and to what english RFU would have try to copy if the clubs had been OK…

230 Go to comments

SadersMan 2 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Sounds lame bro.

253 Go to comments

SadersMan 3 hours ago

New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

Well that’s the counter argument. I disagree. If someone’s available for NPC, they’re eligible.

97 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Wrll I GOOGLED the name ROIGATD as I mis spelt it and surprise surprise!!!!! Up came Cam Roigard, NZ rugby player, as the first option.

Wrll said!

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Like who?

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Yes sure.

Two world cups is far worse.

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Wrll, wrll, wrll.

What do we have here!?

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Just 80% is fine.

England did 89% in 2020

France did 100% in 2022

Ireland did 92% in 2022

South Africa did 85% back to back 2023 and 2024.

So +80% has been done plenty.

Only knew Zeland hasn’t done >80% in the last 6 completed seasons. Average of 68% 2019 - 2024.

This year you’ll do it I reckon.

253 Go to comments

JH 3 hours ago

Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

I’d say his plan is play the next world cup, try and get a winner’s medal, then immediately hop the plane back to France and turn out for Tonga in 3031 while also cashing those club cheques.

I don’t agree with the NZR policy as such, because they may as well get their money’s worth while he’s here, but I can certainly see how they’d be viewing his ‘stay’ as a not particularly loyal one.

40 Go to comments

JW 3 hours ago

New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

Nar, it doesn’t make snse, as that just tells everyone that’s leaves the jerseys theres when they get back.

Exactly the wrong message loyal players want to hear, and would cause to also leave in future.

True though, he could have played wing, I was only thinking of center.

97 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago

Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

In your skull cavity?

253 Go to comments

Hammer Head 3 hours ago