Preview: Sale v Leeds Carnegie

Editor

Sale are boosted by the return of Mark Cueto and Dwayne Peel for their Aviva Premiership clash with Leeds Carnegie at Edgeley Park.

Sale are boosted by the return of Mark Cueto and Dwayne Peel for their Aviva Premiership game against Leeds Carnegie at Edgeley Park on Friday.

James Gaskell, Eifion Lewis Roberts and David Seymour all also return after injury.

“The players have been training hard since the defeat at Wasps preparing for this game. It's a crucial game for both teams and we have been working on all areas of our game,” said Executive Director of Rugby Steve Diamond.

Meanwhile, Leeds Carnegie Head Coach Neil Back has made five changes to his side for this Friday's Aviva Premiership clash.

The majority of the changes come in the front row. Steve Thompson returns from his try-scoring appearance off the bench with England last weekend. Either side of Thompson are Mike MacDonald and Phil Swainston with Gareth Hardy and Juan Gomez this week starting on the bench.

There is only one change in the back line with Lee Blackett returning from injury to replace Scott Barrow, who has had a hernia operation this week. Henry Fa'afili reverts to centre to allow Blackett to return on the right wing.

The final change is the return of skipper Marco Wentzel from a hamstring injury suffered in the first half of the win over London Irish. He replaces Sean Hohneck.

The bench also sees back row Rhys Oakley return from injury, in place of James Craig, whilst Christian Lewis-Pratt could make his first appearance in the Aviva Premiership since the game at London Irish back in October.

Form: In twenty previous matches between the two clubs in all competitions Leeds have won just once: 19-10 at Edgeley Park in the Premiership on 19 February 2010. Sale Sharks have lost their last six matches in all competitions since their 50-5 victory against El Salvador in Valladolid on 22 January. Sale's only victory in their last five games of Aviva Premiership Rugby at Edgeley Park was 28-22 over Saracens on 2 January. Leeds Carnegie's solo win in their last seven encounters in all competitions was 27-19 at home to London Irish on 6 March.

The teams:

Sale: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Ben Cohen, 13 Chris Bell, 12 Andy Tuilagi, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Neil McMillan, 6 James Gaskell, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Chris Jones, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Neil Briggs, 1 Lee Imiolek.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Jack Forster, 19 Sean Cox, 20 David Seymour, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Paul Williams, 23 Kyle Tonetti.

Leeds Carnegie: 15 Michael Stephenson, 14 Lee Blackett, 13 Henry Faafili, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Peter Wackett, 10 Adrian Jarvis, 9 Scott Mathie, 8 Alfie Tooala, 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 Kearnan Myall, 5 Marco Wentzel (capt), 4 Daniel Browne, 3 Phil Swainston, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Scott Freer, 17 Gareth Hardy, 18 Juan Gomez, 19 Rhys Oakley, 20 Danny Paul, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Christian Lewis Pratt, 23 Semi Tadulala.

Date: Friday, March 25
Kick-off: 19:45
Venue: Edgeley Park
Referee: Wayne Barnes