In a week rife with squad shuffles, Sale Sharks are set to welcome back British and Irish Lions hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, while England's flanker Ben Curry grapples with a hamstring nightmare that could see him sidelined for a major operation. Both Sale and Newcastle Red Bulls are desperate to bounce back from last week's disappointments in what promises to be a fiery Northern derby.
Sale's lineup sees a significant overhaul with Cowan-Dickie replacing Nathan Jibulu as a starter, signaling a robust approach against the Red Bulls. Curry's absence paves the way for academy product Tristan Woodman to prove his mettle in the back-row, alongside the unchanged duo of Sam Dugdale and captain Ernst van Rhyn. The backline boasts an all-international trio with Joe Carpenter, Tom Roebuck, and Scottish winger Arron Reed looking to wreak havoc.
On the flip side, Newcastle Red Bulls have not held back in their team alterations, with six new faces following their defeat to Exeter. Among the notable entries are Boeta Chamberlain at fly-half and the robust combination of Amanaki Mafi and Fergus Lee-Warner in the back-row. This reshuffle underscores the Red Bulls' intent to disrupt Sale's game plan and snatch a victory on enemy turf.
"We're injecting new energy into the squad with these changes, aiming for a dynamic that challenges Sale at every turn,"
noted Red Bulls' coach, reflecting the strategic mindset heading into the weekend clash.
The stakes are high and both teams are under pressure to deliver a win. With international talents scattered across both squads, the encounter is expected to be a showcase of high-intensity rugby, filled with strategic depth and physical prowess. Sale, buoyed by the return of Cowan-Dickie and the fresh legs from their bench, will look to capitalize on their home advantage at CorpAcq Stadium.
The game, kicking off at 19:45 BST, will be available for rugby aficionados on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, and Discovery+, with Joe James officiating as referee. As the teams gear up for this crucial matchup, the rugby community buzzes with anticipation, ready to witness which squad will emerge victorious from this Northern rivalry.
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Sam Dugdale, 7 Tristan Woodman, 6 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ben Bamber, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Bevan Rodd. Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 James Harper, 19 Tom Burrow, 20 Ethan Caine, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Tom O’Flaherty, 23 Sam Bedlow.
Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Ethan Grayson, 14 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Max Clark, 11 Alex
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In a week rife with squad shuffles, Sale Sharks are set to welcome back British and Irish Lions hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, while England's flanker Ben Curry grapples with a hamstring nightmare that could see him sidelined for a major operation. Both Sale and Newcastle Red Bulls are desperate to bounce back from last week's disappointments in what promises to be a fiery Northern derby.
Sale's lineup sees a significant overhaul with Cowan-Dickie replacing Nathan Jibulu as a starter, signaling a robust approach against the Red Bulls. Curry's absence paves the way for academy product Tristan Woodman to prove his mettle in the back-row, alongside the unchanged duo of Sam Dugdale and captain Ernst van Rhyn. The backline boasts an all-international trio with Joe Carpenter, Tom Roebuck, and Scottish winger Arron Reed looking to wreak havoc.
On the flip side, Newcastle Red Bulls have not held back in their team alterations, with six new faces following their defeat to Exeter. Among the notable entries are Boeta Chamberlain at fly-half and the robust combination of Amanaki Mafi and Fergus Lee-Warner in the back-row. This reshuffle underscores the Red Bulls' intent to disrupt Sale's game plan and snatch a victory on enemy turf.
"We're injecting new energy into the squad with these changes, aiming for a dynamic that challenges Sale at every turn,"
noted Red Bulls' coach, reflecting the strategic mindset heading into the weekend clash.The stakes are high and both teams are under pressure to deliver a win. With international talents scattered across both squads, the encounter is expected to be a showcase of high-intensity rugby, filled with strategic depth and physical prowess. Sale, buoyed by the return of Cowan-Dickie and the fresh legs from their bench, will look to capitalize on their home advantage at CorpAcq Stadium.
The game, kicking off at 19:45 BST, will be available for rugby aficionados on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, and Discovery+, with Joe James officiating as referee. As the teams gear up for this crucial matchup, the rugby community buzzes with anticipation, ready to witness which squad will emerge victorious from this Northern rivalry.
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Sam Dugdale, 7 Tristan Woodman, 6 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ben Bamber, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Bevan Rodd. Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 James Harper, 19 Tom Burrow, 20 Ethan Caine, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Tom O’Flaherty, 23 Sam Bedlow.
Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Ethan Grayson, 14 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Max Clark, 11 Alex