Preview: Bristol v Sale Sharks
Matt Salter returns to the Bristol team for Friday's Guinness Premiership encounter with Sale Sharks at the Memorial Ground.
Matt Salter returns to the Bristol team for Friday's Guinness Premiership encounter with Sale Sharks at the Memorial Ground.
Salter returns on the blindside in place of Iain Grieve, and will take over as captain from Joe El-Abd. There are two other changes in the pack with Scott Linklater and Roy Winters replacing Mark Regan and Nathan Budgett respectively.
Head Coach Richard Hill admitted, when he announced his team, that the rest of his team's Guinness Premiership fixtures almost represent another pre-season in that it gives him a chance to look at new options.
“We're almost looking ahead now to how we want to play next year,” said Hill.
“We've been trying to change the style of play and be a little bit more expansive which is tricky when you're in the heat of battle and points are vital.
“But it is a bit easier now because we can think a bit about the long term rather than gearing everything towards one fixture at a time.”
Sale Director of Rugby Philippe Saint Andre has been forced to shuffle his side as they face two games in five days.
Luke McAlister and Lee Thomas make way for Charlie Hodgson and Elvis Seveali'i respectively as Saint Andre realises the importance of the next week on Sale's season.
“The next two games, played in the space of five days, could make or break our Premiership season,” he said.
“Both games are very difficult but we are ready and have total focus on Friday's game against Bristol. We are staying down in the South of England over the weekend so that we can keep the squad together and prepare for Tuesday's game against Wasps.”
Form: Bristol have lost their last two games to Harlequins and London Irish, and also their last two home games against Bath and Harlequins. However Bristol have not lost three in a row at home in the Premiership in the same season since 2000/01. Sale Sharks have won their last three encounters in all competitions, although all three games were played at their Edgeley Park home. Sale won 20-6 when the two teams met at Stockport in September and the Sharks are going for a double over Bristol for the first time since 2001/02.
The Teams:
Bristol: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Tom Arscott, 13 Rob Higgitt, 12 Neil Brew, 11 David Lemi, 10 Ed Barnes, 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Joe El Abd, 6 Matt Salter (c), 5 Sean Hohneck, 4 Roy Winters, 3 Jason Hobson, 2 Scott Linklater, 1 Darren Crompton.
Replacements: 16 Mark Regan, 17 Peter Bracken, 18 Nathan Budgett, 19 Andrew Blowers, 20 Haydn Thomas, 21 Jason Strange, 22 Luke Eves.
Sale Sharks: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Chris Bell, 12 Elvis Seveali'i, 11 Oriol Ripol, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Chris Jones, 7 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Jason White, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Stuart Turner, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Eifion Roberts, 18 Brent Cockbain, 19 Magnus Lund, 20 Will Cliff, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Selorm Kuadey.
Date: Friday 11 April, 2008
Kick-off: 19:30 BST, 18:30 GMT
Venue: Memorial Ground
Referee: Tony Spreadbury
Touch judges: Paul Dix, Roger Baileff
Television match official: Matt Peters