Gloucester v Sale: Teams
Despite missing several players on Six Nations duty Sale are able to field a strong side to face Gloucester on Saturday.
Last Updated: 13/02/09 3:59pm
Despite missing several players on Six Nations duty Sale are able to field a side for Saturday's Guinness Premiership trip to Gloucester featuring ten capped internationals.
Having not won away to Gloucester in nine years Sale's director of rugby, Kingsley Jones, knows the importance of Saturday's clash.
"This is a huge game for us," he said.
"Sale Sharks have not won at Kingsholm since 2000 although we have been close to winning on a couple of occasions.
"I spent some memorable years at Gloucester, it's a good club with a very loyal fan base. They love their rugby there and they currently lead the Premiership.
Spencer debut
"It promises to be a good game and like Worcester a fortnight ago we need to respect the opposition, show patience but we also need a strong referee throughout the eighty minutes."
For Gloucester Carlos Spencer will make his debut having signed from Northampton last week.
The 34-times capped former All Black play-maker will form a half-back partnership with scrum-half Rory Lawson, meaning once again Ryan Lamb is left on the bench.
It means that Olly Barkley reverts back to his favoured inside centre position where he will form a centre partnership alongside Matthew Watkins.
"The impact Carlos has had has been immediate - he brings an energy and vitality to what we are trying to do and the squad has responded to that really well," head coach Dean Ryan said.
"He has a fantastic understanding of what makes a team operate and it will be great to see him in a Gloucester shirt. He is one of those players that makes things happen and that is very exciting prospect."
Gloucester: 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Mark Foster, 13 Matthew Watkins, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 James Simpson-Daniel, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Gareth Delve, 7 Andy Hazell, 6 Apo Satala, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Will James, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Olivier Azam (c), 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Jack Forster, 18 Adam Eustace, 19 Dan Williams, 20 Ryan Lamb, 21 Anthony Allen, 22 Charlie Sharples.
Sale Sharks: 15 Nick McLeod, 14 Chris Bell, 13 Luke McAlister, 12 Lee Thomas, 11 Oriol Ripol, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Luke Abraham, 6 Chris Jones, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Dean Schofield, 3 Stuart Turner, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Eifion Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Rob O'Donnell, 18 Brent Cockbain, 19 Neil Briggs, 20 Chris Leck, 21 Rudi Keil, 22 Selorm Kuadey.