Preview: Sale Sharks vs Leicester Tigers

Salford City Stadium becomes the fourteenth different venue to host a Gallagher Premiership Rugby semi-final fixture. Sale’s only previous home match at this stage was a 22-12 victory over Wasps at Edgeley Park in 2006. Sale Sharks have won their last three Premiership Rugby fixtures since their 18- 36 lost at London Irish in Round 20. The Sharks only defeat at Salford in Premiership Rugby since April 2022 was 13-29 to Harlequins in Round 7.

Leicester Tigers six game winning run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby ended with their 17-20 reversal at home to Harlequins last weekend. This is the Tigers fourteenth appearance in a Premiership Rugby semi-final tie with their four defeats coming in successive appearance, all away from home, between 2014 and 2017. Tigers’ only success in the last four away from home was beating Gloucester 26-25 at Kingsholm in 2008.

Sale have lost just one of their last nine encounters with Leicester in Premiership Rugby: 11-19 at Welford Road in October 2021. The Tigers have won only once at Salford City Stadium since 2014: 35- 13 in Premiership Rugby in May 2018.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (273 rd Premiership game, 7th semi-final).

Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce and Jack Makepeace. TMO: Tom Foley.

Citing Officer: Dave Guyan.

Sale Sharks Team News

Tom Curry and Akker van der Merwe return to action after being rested as Sale Sharks make five changes to the side that dispatched Newcastle Falcons on the final day of the regular season for their Gallagher Premiership semi-final clash against Leicester Tigers on Sunday.

Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson has also recalled Gus Warr, Si McIntyre and fit-again Nick Schonert as his side prepare for their first home semi-final in seventeen years at the AJ Bell Stadium. (Kick-off 3:00pm – Live on BT Sport)

Ahead of a visit from the current Premiership champions, Sanderson opts for a complete change in the front row as Schonert returns from a knee injury to line up alongside Van der Merwe and McIntyre.

The second row remains unchanged with the powerful partnership of Jean-Luc du Preez and Jonny Hill paying dividends for the Sharks at the back end of the season.

Imposing England international Tom Curry returns to the Sale back-row in place of Sam Dugdale and is named at blindside flanker while twin brother Ben captains the team from openside. Jono Ross wears the number 8 shirt in his final game at the AJ Bell Stadium.

On the back of his nomination for breakthrough player of the season at Wednesday’s Premiership Rugby Awards, Gus Warr returns to the Sanderson’s starting XV at scrum-half and will look to steady the Sharks’ ship alongside two-time Premiership winner George Ford.

Ford has former Tigers team-mate Manu Tuilagi for company at inside centre with Rob du Preez offering further attacking options in the thirteen shirt. A homegrown trio of Arron Reed, Tom Roebuck and Joe Carpenter make up the Sharks back three.

Sale name six internationals as replacements this weekend. Scotland’s Ewan Ashman, who will also play his final game at the AJ Bell, lines up alongside England international Bevan Rodd and multi-capped Springbok Coenie Oosthuizen to cover the front-row.  

Josh Beaumont and Daniel du Preez offer further forward cover for the crunch match in Salford, whilst Raffi Quirke, Sam James and Tom O’Flaherty offer a serious energy boost from the bench.

Starting XV: 15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Simon McIntyre, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Ben Curry (C), 8. Jono Ross.

Replacements: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Bevan Rodd, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Daniel du Preez, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Sam James, 23. Tom O’Flaherty

Leicester Tigers Team News

Richard Wigglesworth has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to play Sale Sharks in the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership semi-finals.

Julián Montoya will captain the team at the AJ Bell Stadium on Sunday afternoon and Tommy Reffell will make his 100th Leicester Tigers appearance.

Wigglesworth has made four changes to the starting side from the Round 24 defeat to Harlequins at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

George Martin, Freddie Steward and Anthony Watson return to action, after missing the final round of the regular season, while Matt Scott is included in the midfield after coming on as a replacement last weekend.

The lone change to the starting pack is Martin’s inclusion at lock alongside Cameron Henderson in the second row.

In the backline, Scott comes in to partner Dan Kelly in the midfield, and Harry Potter is joined in the back three by Steward and Watson.

On the bench, James Cronin is in line for a return from injury. Meanwhile, Harry Wells and Guy Porter - who started last weekend’s fixture - are also included among the replacements.

STARTING XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Tom West, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 3 Dan Cole, 4 George Martin, 5 Cameron Henderson, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Jasper Wiese

REPLACEMENTS: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Cronin, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Jack van Poortvliet, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Guy Porter