England scrum-half Raffi Quirke has been named in Sale Sharks’ starting team for their Premiership clash with London Irish at the AJ Bell Stadium.
He’s included in the XV for the first time in six months and Sam Hill makes his first league start this season as Sale go in search of a fifth win in a row.
Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman also features from the start for the first time this season while Dan du Preez and captain Ben Curry return to action as Alex Sanderson makes five changes for the Round Six clash against Declan Kidney’s men.
Academy graduate Ashman packs down between Nick Schonert and England prop Bevan Rodd in a powerful Sharks front-row.
In the second-row, Jonny Hill lines up alongside Jean-Luc du Preez who switches from the number eight shirt he wore in the win at Premiership champions Leicester Tigers.
Twin brother Dan is back in his familiar position at number eight for Friday’s game, and he’s flanked by another set of twins – captain Ben Curry at blindside flanker and brother Tom at openside.
Strong cameo last week
In the half-backs, Quirke lines up at scrum-half after his electric cameo at Welford Road last weekend, and he’s joined by the in-form Rob du Preez at fly-half.
After an injury plagued 2021/22 season, fit-again Hill starts at inside centre and he’s partnered by the ever-present Sam James at 13.
And after an impressive showing against Leicester, the back three is unchanged as Joe Carpenter takes his place in between Tom O’Flaherty and Tom Roebuck.
Akker van der Merwe, Simon McIntyre and Coenie Oosthuizen provide power and front-row experience on the replacements bench, and further forwards cover comes from Josh Beaumont and Jono Ross.
The backs are covered by academy graduates Gus Warr, Tom Curtis and Arron Reed.
Meanwhile, London Irish have named Will Goodrick-Clarke, Agustin Creevy and Lovejoy Chawatama in their front-row, with Api Ratuniyarawa and Rob Simmons, who will captain the side, in the second-row.
Ben Donnell is named in the six jersey and is joined in the back-row by Juan Martin Gonzalez and So’otala Fa’aso’o, with the latter making his first appearance in the London Irish shirt.
Ben White and Paddy Jackson continue their partnership in the half-backs, with Benhard van Rensburg and Will Joseph combining in the centres.
Ollie Hassell-Collins, Ben Loader and James Stokes are named as the back three.
Form: Sale Sharks have won their last seven Premiership Rugby matches since their 12-18 home defeat to Saracens on April 1. That was the Shark’s only defeat at Salford City Stadium in Premiership Rugby since Exeter beat them there in October 2021. London Irish’s two-game losing run ended with their 47-38 victory over Bath in Round Four. The Exiles have lost their last three away games in Premiership Rugby since their 42-14 victory at Newcastle Falcons in Round 23 last season. Unusually the two clubs drew both of their fixtures in Premiership Rugby last season ending a run of eight successive Sale victories in the fixture in the competition. London Irish last beat Sale 25-23 at Madejski Stadium in April 2015 whilst their most recent success on “Sale soil” came at the Macron Stadium in Bolton in April 2011.
The teams:
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Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Sam James, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Raffi Quirke, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Ben Curry (c), 6 Tom Curry, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Jean-Luc du Preez, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Bevan Rodd
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Jono Ross, 21 Gus Warr, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Arron Reed
London Irish: 15 James Stokes, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Benhard van Rensburg, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ben White, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Ben Donnell, 5 Rob Simmons (c), 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
Replacements: 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Caolan Englefield, 22 Lucio Cinti, 23 Logan Trotter
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Dan Jones, James Clarke
TMO: Rowan Kitt
