Siale Piutau returns to Bristol XV for Sale clash

David Skippers
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Bristol Bears' Siale Piutau (left) evades being tackled by Worcester Warriors' Melani Nanai during the Gallagher Premiership match at Sixways Stadium, Worcester.

The Premiership’s Round Eight action gets underway on Friday when table-topping Bristol Bears host third-placed Sale Sharks at Ashton Gate.

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam makes two changes to the starting 15 that overcame Bath last weekend in a record breaking derby victory.

Siale Piutau and Siva Naulago come into the run-on side as Semi Radradra and Luke Morahan (both unavailable) miss out.

Steven Luatua retains the captaincy having skippered the side for the 50th time last weekend, the 33rd player in club history to reach the landmark.

Bristol University scrum-half Calum Waters arrives on a trial period as cover for the unavailable Harry Randall, Chris Cook and Blake Boyland.

The 24-year-old – who made four competitive appearances for Harlequins, scoring in the 2017 Anglo-Welsh Cup competition – will take part in the warm-up as cover.

Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro could make his first competitive outing for the Bears after being named amongst the replacements for the Round Eight clash, while Sam Bedlow is also included with Callum Sheedy on international duty.

Meanwhile, Springbok international Jean-Luc du Preez returns to the starting line up for Sale Sharks as Alex Sanderson names his side to face the Premiership pacesetters.

The recently appointed Sharks director of rugby makes three personnel changes to the squad that defeated Leicester Tigers in his first game in charge last weekend. Simon Hammersley makes a welcome return from injury and is named as a replacement for this top four clash – Robert du Preez is also included on the bench alongside younger brother Jean-Luc du Preez who starts at number eight.

Academy graduates Bevan Rodd and Curtis Langdon continue in their rich vein of form and are selected in the front-row alongside WillGriff John. After a commanding performance at Welford Road in Round Seven, Cobus Wiese continues to impress in the second-row and lines up alongside Josh Beaumont for the first time.

Jono Ross captains the side from his usual position of blindside flanker as Cameron Neild and Jean-Luc du Preez make up a new-look Sharks back-row.

The Sale backline remains unchanged from Round Seven as Faf de Klerk and AJ MacGinty line up alongside Sam Hill, Sam James, Byron McGuigan, Marland Yarde and Luke James.

Form: Bristol Bears have won their last six Premiership Rugby matches since their opening weekend defeat at Wasps. Bristol’s solitary home defeat in Premiership Rugby since December 2019 was 25-22 to Exeter in August 2020. Sale Sharks have won their last three Premiership fixtures since their 26-23 defeat at home to Wasps on December 27. The Sharks have lost only once away from home in Premiership Rugby since August: 15-13 at Newcastle at the end of November. The last three encounters between the two clubs have been evenly split with one win apiece in addition to a draw. Sale have visited Ashton Gate on four previous occasions in all competitions with their only victory being 31-13 in Premiership Rugby in October 2016.

The teams:

Bristol: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Siva Naulago, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 5 Chris Vui, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 John Afoa, 2 Bryan Byrne, 1 Jake Woolmore
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Ed Holmes, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 Sam Bedlow, 23 Alapati Leiua

Sale: 15 Luke James, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Sam James, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 AJ Macginty, 9 Faf De Klerk, 8 Jean-Luc Du Preez, 7 Cameron Neild, 6 Jono Ross (c), 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Curtis Langdon, 1 Bevan Rodd
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 James Phillips, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Robert Du Preez, 23 Simon Hammersley

Venue: Ashton Gate
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace, Simon McConnell
TMO: Tom Foley

 

Bristol