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Wilson set to make his first Sale start, Leicester give debut to promising half-back

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Mark Wilson is set to make his first Sale Sharks start after Steve Diamond made four changes to his starting line-up for Friday night’s Gallagher Premiership clash with Leicester Tigers.

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After picking up an injury at the World Cup in Japan that required surgery following the tournament, the England back row came off the bench in recent weeks against Saracens in both the Premiership Cup and in the Premiership. 

He now takes Ben Curry’s place in the starting line-up and packs down alongside Daniel du Preez and Jono Ross, ending a four-month wait to make the starting side following his season-long loan switch from Newcastle.

Diamond said: “Leicester are a tough opposition and despite their rocky start to the season, they are a team with huge pedigree and should always be respected. 

“After a good win at Welford Road last time out, the Tigers will be heading north full of confidence, so we need to make sure we are really on the ball tonight and nullify their threats effectively.”

(Continue reading below…)

Brian O’Driscoll hits back at England boss Eddie Jones

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Leicester, meanwhile, have handed Dan Cole the captaincy in the absence of the suspended Tom Youngs, who received a four-week ban for foul play in last weekend’s win over Wasps. 

Tatafu Polota-Nau replaces Youngs at hooker, and there are places for Tommy Reffell and Ifereimi Boladau in the forward pack with Jordan Taufua and Sione Kalamafoni ruled out by injury this week.

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Tigers also recall Noel Reid and Jordan Olowofela to the backline and given a Premiership debut to academy graduate and England under-20s cap Jack van Poortvliet.

Coach Geordan Murphy said: “We have to scrap for everything – we did that well last weekend. It was a gnarly performance against Wasps in tricky conditions and we were pleased by that.

“We’ve got five players away (on Test duty), we’ve got a few ruled out by injury this week, but it’s a competitive group and players have been putting up their hands in training every week which is just the way it should be.”

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SALE SHARKS: 15. Simon Hammersley; 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Sam James, 12. Luke James, 11. Marland Yarde; 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Will Cliff; 1. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Rob Webber, 3. Jake Cooper-Woolley, 4. Bryn Evans, 5. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Jono Ross (capt) 7. Mark Wilson, 8. Daniel du Preez. Reps: 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. Will-Griff John, 19. James Phillips, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Denny Solomona.

LEICESTER TIGERS: 15. Telusa Veainu; 14. Jonah Holmes, 13. Jaco Taute, 12. Kyle Eastmond, 11. Jordan Olowofela; 10. Noel Reid, 9. Jack van Poortvliet; 1. Greg Bateman, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Dan Cole (capt), 4. Tomas Lavanini, 5. Will Spencer, 6. Hanro Liebenberg, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Ifereimi Boladau. Reps: 16. Jake Kerr, 17. Nephi Leatigaga, 18. Joe Heyes, 19. Joe Batley, 20. Harry Wells, 21. Sam Lewis, 22. Harry Simmons, 23. Johnny McPhillips.

WATCH: RugbyPass went behind the scenes at Leicester to see how they develop players such as Jack van Poortvliet

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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