Preview: Harlequins v Sale
Sale Sharks welcome back Chris Bell for his first senior start of 2010 in their final game of the season against Harlequins at The Stoop.
Sale welcome back Chris Bell for his first senior start of 2010 in their final Guinness Premiership game of the term against Harlequins at The Stoop.
Sale have also included England U20 loosehead Lee Imiolek in the starting line-up for the first time.
“We really want to finish strongly,” said Sharks' Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones, looking ahead to the game.
“Quins have come into some form of late, particularly their back three. They're a very dangerous side, who put in a good performance at Welford Road, for fifty/sixty minutes.
“We know it's a massive challenge. They'll be highly motivated to beat us, having lost to us three times this season. A ninth-placed finish is still realistic, and we need a positive away win to 'put to bed' a season which has been very tough for all concerned. We believe we can do so.
“We've a couple of guys, Sean Cox and Oriol Ripol, who've had a frustrating season. They want to 'put their hand up' and prove a point. Also, Lee Imiolek has played impressively, and makes his first start for Sale Sharks.”
Meanwhile, it will be an emotional game for Harlequins fans as they say goodbye to the season but also to a couple of Quins favourites.
After an impressive ten-year service at the club, Tani Fuga will start his final game with Harlequins on the bench. David Strettle, whose move to Saracens was announced in February, will be putting the Quins fourteen shirt on for the last time.
It has almost become a bit of a tradition at the Stoop to welcome Northern rivals, Sale Sharks, for the last home game of the season and this season is no exception. With Sale having avoided relegation and Quins now not in contention for a Heineken Cup spot, the sides will be playing purely for pride.
There are four changes to the starting line-up which faced Leicester Tigers two weeks ago at Welford Road. In the forwards, Ceri Jones and John Andress join Matt Cairns in the front row, with Lewis Stevenson replacing George Robson in the second row.
Amongst the backs, Nick Evans returns to fly-half.
Form: Harlequins occupy 8th place in the Guinness Premiership table and have lost their last two games in the competition: to Saracens and Leicester. Quins are unbeaten in their last seven Premiership matches at the Twickenham Stoop, since Saracens won there in September. Sale Sharks preserved their Guinness Premiership status last weekend despite losing their last three games in the competition. The Sharks' only away victory in the Premiership since January 2009 was at Leeds in November 2009. Sale have won their last four encounters with Harlequins in all competitions, since the Sharks won 38-20 in this equivalent fixture at The Stoop last season.
The teams:
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 David Strettle, 13 George Lowe, 12 Jordan Turner-hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Will Skinner (Captain), 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Lewis Stevenson, 4 James Percival, 3 James Johnston, 2 Matt Cairns 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Tani Fuga, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Dan Frazier, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Tom Guest, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Tom Williams.
Sale Sharks: 15 Mark Cueto, 14 Oriol Ripol, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Lee Thomas, 11 Chris Bell, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Sisaro Koyamaibole, 7 David Seymour, 6 Carl Fearns, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Dean Schofield (c), 3 Eifion Roberts, 2 Marc Jones, 1 Lee Imiolek.
Replacements:16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Rob O'Donnell, 18 Martin Halsall, 19 Ian Kench, 20 Neil Briggs, 21 Chris Leck, 22 Jonny Kennedy, 23 Ed Styles.
Date: Saturday, May 8
Kick-off: 15.00 GMT
Venue: Twickenham Stoop