Preview: Sale Sharks v London Irish

2:26pm Friday 9th May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

SALE take on London Irish at Edgeley park on Saturday knowing a win will take them into the Guinness Premiership play-offs.

Currently sitting fourth, the club's closest rivals for a spot in the postseason are fifth-placed Harlequins, who trail them by two points with a tough trip to Leicester ahead of them tomorrow.

Sharks could finish anywhere between second and fifth depending on results.

If they win and third-placed Wasps either lose or draw, they would leapfrog them in the table.

But if they win with a four-try bonus point and second-placed Bath also lose without picking up a bonus point, Sale could go above them if they can overturn Bath's current 21-point advantage in points difference.

A defeat could have catastrophic consequences though because either Harlequins or Leicester could qualify for the play-offs at their expense.

With that in mind, Sharks largely keep faith with the team that performed so impressively last week to beat Harlequins at the Stoop.

The only changes come in the front row, where Lionel Faure and Neil Briggs replace Andrew Sheridan and Sebastien bruno in a bid to keep players fresh.

Mark Cueto returns after a hamstring problem to take a place among the replacements.

Irish make four changes to their starting line-up from last week's win over Leeds.

Peter Hewat returns at full back, which means Topsy Ojo reverts to the right wing and Seilala Mapusua switches to outside centre as Shane Geraghty starts at inside centre.

Up front, Tonga Lea'aetoa comes in at loosehead prop and Phil Murphy at number 8.

SALE: Ben Foden; Selorm Kuadey, Chris Bell, Luke McAlister, Andy Vilk; Charlie Hodgson, Richard Wigglesworth; Lionel Faure, Neil Briggs, Stuart Turner; Chris Jones, Brent Cockbain; Jason White (capt), Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Sebastien Chabal.

Replacements: Sebastien Bruno, Andrew Sheridan, Eifion Roberts, Dean Schofield, Michael Hills, Will Cliff, Mark Cueto.

LONDON IRISH: Peter Hewat; Topsy Ojo, Seilala Mapusua, Shane Geraghty, Sailosi Tagicakibau; Eoghan Hickey, Paul Hodgson; Tonga Lea'aetoa, David Paice, Faan Rautenbach; James Hudson, Bob Casey (capt); Declan Danaher, Steffon Armitage, Phil Murphy.

Replacements: Clarke Dermody, Stuart Mackie, Dan Murphy, Gary Johnson, Richard Thorpe, Warren Fury, Tomas De Vedia.

Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre: "This game is like a quarter final, we need to win to build on last weeks great victory at the Stoop.

"London Irish will however, be tough opponents. They have a good side and were unlucky in the Heineken Cup semi-finals when they narrowly lost to Toulouse.

"They have a very good record against us and I am sure they will be looking to finish their season on a high.

"The weather forecast is good, for a change, and I would like to see a big crowd turn up for this final home game of the season."

London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith: "We're going into our last game of the season and there is still lots to play for.

"It's possible for us to finish in sixth place in the Premiership and secure a Heineken Cup place for next season. If we're to do that then we must win on Saturday and hope that results elsewhere go our way.

"Sale have shown the true potential of their strong squad this season. They have been in the top half of the league for most of the season and deservedly so.

"Whatever position you look at there are talented, experienced players that are well coached by Philippe Saint-Andre and Kingsley Jones and who always perform well at home.

"It's been a special season for London Irish. We've played some great rugby and that's a credit to our players.

"We want to finish with a performance that we can be proud of and that will require us to re-produce the form we showed in the home game with Sale earlier in the season."