Aviva Premiership: Sale v Leicester
Last Updated: 27/12/14 1:22pm
Sale Sharks welcome Leicester to the AJ Bell Stadium as they search for their fifth consecutive Premiership win.
While Leicester have uncharacteristically struggled, finding themselves in the middle of the Aiva Premiership table, Sale have defied critics to rise to fifth place. Their form puts them in contention for the European Champions Cup if they are able to play as well in the second have of the season as they have in the first.
Fly-half Danny Cipriani set up a try and scored one himself as his side brought an end to Exeter's brilliant run of Premiership form with a 18-11 win last weekend.
This week Steve Diamond has reshuffled his loose trio for his side's important fixture against a smarting Tigers outfit. Daniel Braid started at blindside flank last week but this week wears the No 8 jersey. Magnus Lund switches from openside to blindside while David Seymour comes into the team as the only player not to start against Exeter.
Leicester make the trip to Sale on Saturday following a disappointing loss to rivals Northampton last weekend. Saints hooker Dylan Hartley was shown a red card for elbowing Matt Smith in the derby, but the Tigers were unable to capitalise on the extra man advantage as they went down 23-19 at Franklin's Gardens.
Richard Cockerill has made eight changes to his starting team in response to the loss.
England international Freddie Burns starts in the No 10 jersey while Mathew Tait takes over from Blaine Scully on the wing to face his former club.
Tommy Bell takes over from Tait in the No 15 jersey and Jonny Leota pairs up with Anthony Allen in the midfield, taking over from Smith.
In the forward pack Jamie Gibson makes a return on the flank and in the front row Michele Rizzo and Leonardo Ghiraldini come into the team, with Tom Youngs and Marcos Ayerza picked on the bench.
Fiji international Seremaia Bai is back from a calf injury which has kept him out of the team since the opening round of fixtures, and he takes his place on the bench.
Sale: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Will Addison, 13 Jonny Leota, 12 Sammy Tuitupou, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Chris Cusiter, 1 Eifion Lewis Roberts, 2 Marc Jones, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 4 Jonathan Mills, 5 Nathan Hines, 6 Magnus Lund, 7 David Seymour, 8 Dan Braid (c).
Replacements: 16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Alberto de Marchi, 18 Ross Harrison, 19 Andrei Ostrikov, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Mark Jennings
Leicester: 15 Tommy Bell, 14 Mathew Tait, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs (c), 1 Michele Rizzo, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Graham Kitchener, 5 Geoff Parling, 6 Jamie Gibson, 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Jordan Crane.
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Sebastian De Chaves, 20 Robert Barbieri, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Seremaia Bai.