With a late alteration to their lineup, Sale Sharks faced a setback ahead of their game against Harlequins as England's Tom Curry, initially slated to play, stepped down due to illness. This unexpected change disrupted the team's strategy, compelling Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson to reorganize his squad.
Christ Tshiunza was called up to the starting back-row, and Sam Dugdale secured a spot on the bench as Sale Sharks adjusted to the absence of Curry. Despite the shuffle, the team maintained a strong lineup, with Joe Carpenter as full-back, Tom O’Flaherty and Arron Reed on the wings, and the midfield pairing of Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski.
In the half-back roles, George Ford and Gus Warr were selected to start, setting the stage for a dynamic game. The back-row featured Tshiunza alongside Elia Canakaivata and Courtney Lawes, providing a blend of agility and strength, while Ben Bamber and captain Ernst van Rhyn held the locks. The front-row saw Asher Opoku-Fordjour, former Harlequin Nathan Jibulu, and Nicky Smith.
Harlequins, sticking to their announced team, positioned George Furbank as full-back, with Tyrone Green and captain Cadan Murley on the wings. Centres Luke Northmore and Bryn Bradley, along with half-backs Marcus Smith and Will Porter, were ready to challenge the Sharks. Their back-row included Chandler Cunningham-South, Seb Driscoll, and Jack Kenningham, with Kieran Treadwell and James Dun in the lock positions. The starting front-row comprised Simon Kerrod, Sam Riley, and Will Hobson.
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Predictions hinted at a dominant performance by Sale, anticipating a victory margin of around 20 points. This prediction underscored the potential impact of the players lined up, despite Curry's last-minute withdrawal.
The game was set to take place at CorpAcq Stadium with Christophe Ridley refereeing, assisted by Henry Pearson and Jamie Leahy, while Peter Allan served as the TMO. Broadcast coverage was scheduled on TNT Sports 5 and HBO Max, ensuring fans wouldn't miss the action.
Sale Sharks Full Team Lineup:
- Joe Carpenter
- Tom O’Flaherty
- Joe Marchant
- Alex Lozowski
- Arron Reed
- George Ford
- Gus Warr
- Elia Canakaivata
- Christ Tshiunza
- Courtney Lawes
- Ben Bamber
- Ernst van Rhyn (c)
- Asher Opoku-Fordjour
- Nathan Jibulu
- Nicky Smith
Replacements:
- Luke Cowan-Dickie
- Si McIntyre
- Tomas Francis
- Sam Dugdale
- Ben Curry
- Dom Hanson
- Marius Louw
- Ponipate Loganimasi
Harlequins Full Team Lineup:
- George Furbank
- Tyrone Green
- Luke Northmore
- Bryn Bradley
- Cadan Murley (c)
- Marcus Smith
- Will Porter
- Chandler Cunningham-South
- Seb Driscoll
- Jack Kenningham
- Kieran Treadwell
- James Dun
- Simon Kerrod
- Sam Riley
- Will Hobson
Replacements:
- Jack Walker
- Harry Johnson-Holmes
- Ollie Streeter
- Guido Petti Pagadizábal
- Lucas Schmid
- Lucas Friday
- Oscar Beard
- Rodrigo Isgró
