Team news ahead of Sharks clash
Back at full back
By Duncan Wood
November 1 2002
Here is the team news ahead of tonight's league clash with the Sharks. Jim Mallinder is playing his cards close to his chest and has named just a squad. Peter Thorburn has named his starting XV and replacements.
Here are the lineups for the clash at Heywood Road. In the case of Sale, it's a 23 man squad.
Sharks (from) |
Bristol Shoguns |
|
Jason Robinson |
15 |
Lee Best |
Vaughan Going |
14 |
David Rees |
Mark Cueto |
13 |
Andrew Higgins |
Steve Hanley |
12 |
Daryl Gibson |
Graeme Bond |
11 |
Phil Christophers |
Mel Deane |
10 |
Shane Drahm |
Dan Harris |
9 |
Peter Richards |
Nick Walshe |
1 |
Emiliano Bergamaschi |
Bryan Redpath (c) |
2 |
Paul Johnstone |
Jim Thorp |
3 |
Darren Crompton |
Kevin Yates |
4 |
Garath Archer (c) |
Barry Stewart |
5 |
Alex Brown |
Stuart Turner |
6 |
Craig Short |
Andy Titterell |
7 |
Michael Lipman |
Charl Marais |
8 |
Rhys Oakley |
Replacements |
|
|
| Dean Schofield | Saul Nelson |
|
| Christian Day | Chris Rowland |
|
| Chris Jones | Scott Morgan |
|
| Apollo Perellini | Chris Morgan |
|
| Magnus Lund | Martin Shaw |
|
| Stu Pinkerton | Paul Hodgson |
|
| Phil Davies | Matt Carrington |
|
| Peter Anglesea |
|
Sale have highly rated second row Chris Jones returning to the squad after a bout of flu. His participation isn't definite and Jim Mallinder won't confirm his starting XV just yet.
“There are still one or two little niggles and sniffles so we are monitoring the situation carefully” he said.
“With Charlie Hodgson due to have an operation on his knee this weekend and Alex Sanderson, Iain Fullarton and Scott Lines still out injured, we don’t have too much room for change apart from a possible return for Chris Jones if he feels all right.
Bristol's weekend off due to the postponement of the Harlequins game helped in that Martin Shaw and Scott Morgan are able to return to the bench but there are still notable injury absentees in Andrew Sheridan, Ross Beattie, Ben Sturnham, Matt Salter and Neil McCarthy.
There is a shake up at half back with Peter Richards and Shane Drahm starting their first league game together with Felipe Contepomi and Agustin Pichot in Argentina. Lee Bee Best moves up from the bench to start at full back.
Jim Mallinder is taking nothing for granted:
"Bristol always provide tough opposition and we aren’t taking any notice of their current position in the Premiership table. We have found this season that any side can beat anybody else on their day and we are still looking for our best form."
Charlie Hodgson's absence for Sale could be crucial although they still possess a lot of firepower out wide. Bristol will need a defensive performance to rival the Montferrand game to keep them at bay.
There will be a fascinating Super 12 clash in the centre with former Brumbie Graeme Bond up against former Crusader Daryl Gibson and up and coming second rows facing off in Chris Jones and Alex Brown.
It's a big ask for Bristol tonight. Despite Sale's injury absences, they're always tough at home. Bristol also have their injury problems and the Friday night kickoff means that there won't be much travelling support.