Sale make changes up front for Wasps match

Posted on Feb 23, 2012 in English Rugby, London Wasps, Premiership, Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks have announced their team for the Aviva Premiership Round 16 game against London Wasps at Edgeley Park tomorrow (Friday), kick off 7.45 p.m. Andy Powell, not in the Wales 22 at Twickenham, continues at No.8 and Kearnan Myall is included in the second row, his first start since the Amlin Challenge Cup game at La Vila on January 14th. Vadim Cobilas is preferred at tight head prop and James Gaskell switches to blindside flanker.

Sharks: 15.Rob Miller, 14.Tom Brady, 13.Johnny Leota, 12.Sam Tuitupou (capt.), 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Nick Macleod, 9.Dwayne Peel, 1.Andrew Sheridan, 2.Marc Jones, 3.Vadim Cobilas, 4.Andrei Ostrikov, 5.Kearnan Myall, 6.James Gaskell, 7.David Seymour, 8.Andy Powell.

Replacements: 16.Joe Ward, 17.Ross Harrison, 18.Tony Buckley, 19.Onosa’i Auva’a,  20.Mark Easter, 21.Cillian Willis, 22.Luther Burrell, 23.Joaquin Tuculet

Looking ahead to his side’s remaining seven games, Sharks’ Chief Executive Steve Diamond said, “We’ve got four home games left in the Aviva Premiership, and we’ve got to win them all, starting with Friday if we’re to challenge the top four. Our discipline let us down a bit at Northampton last Saturday, so we need to keep winning our home games and pickup points where we can on the road.”

Friday’s game brings London Wasps to face current Sharks’ Head Coach Tony Hanks, but the former Adams Park Director of Rugby says, “I’m very focused about the task in hand here. This game is not about me, it’s about Sale Sharks, our ambition and what we want to achieve. Getting the points is paramount.”

Powell makes debut for Sharks

Posted on Oct 27, 2011 in English Rugby, Premiership, Sale Sharks

Welsh international forward Andy Powell is set to make his debut for Sale Sharks against Leicester Tigers in Friday’s Aviva Premiership match at Edgeley Park (kick off 7.45 p.m.)

There’s a new pairing at centre, Sam Tuitupou and Johnny Leota, whilst in the back row of the pack Richie Vernon starts at Number 8 for the first time. Prop Tony Buckley has recovered from flu and takes his place on the bench alongside returning hooker Joe Ward.

Sale Sharks: 15.Rob Miller, 14.Tom Brady, 13.Johnny Leota, 12.Sam Tuitupou (capt.), 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Nick Macleod, 9.Dwayne Peel, 1.Alasdair Dickinson, 2.Marc Jones, 3.Henry Thomas, 4.Fraser McKenzie, 5.Kearnan Myall, 6.James Gaskell, 7.David Seymour, 8.Richie Vernon.

Replacements 16.Joe Ward, 17.Vadim Cobilas, 18.Tony Buckley, 19.Mark Easter, 20.Andy Powell, 21.Will Cliff, 22.Luther Burrell, 23.Will Addison.

Sharks’ Executive Director of Sport Steve Diamond commented, "Andy Powell returned to the club on Tuesday, chomping at the bit, and went straight into training with the lads, whom he’d already met during pre-season. He will be taking some part in the game against the Tigers.

"We’ve had some good sessions this week, working on several issues raised by last week’s game; we’re one big unit and know where we need to focus.

" The match against Leicester will be very tough – probably our hardest task of the season. We can’t wait! Edgeley Park is definitely the place to be on Friday night, and we’re looking to our fans to roar us on in this vital game."

Wales team to face England

Posted on Feb 2, 2011 in Rugby News

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has predicted his side’s meeting with England in the RBS 6 Nations opener at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night will be “a battle of inches not yards.”

Howley is in charge of a back line which sees Scarlets wing Morgan Stoddart return to international duty for the first time since the Autumn of 2008 and finds a place for Osprey James Hook at full back with his regional colleague Lee Byrne on the bench.

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Powell removed from Welsh Squad

Posted on Feb 16, 2010 in Rugby News

The Wales national squad management team has confirmed back row forward Andy Powell will be removed from the Welsh 35-man RBS 6 Nations squad with immediate effect, following his arrest by  South Wales Police  on Sunday morning and has since been charged with drink driving and, after discussions with the player himself, it has been decided by management that he should be suspended from the squad for behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct.

“We take matters of player conduct extremely seriously and have been happy with the professionalism and discipline of this squad in general terms,” said Wales team manager Alan Phillips.

“Andy knows he has misbehaved and is apologetic, but he also knows that he must take responsibility for his own actions and accept the repercussions.

“This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated in a professional, elite sporting environment and we have acted quickly and incisively in order to leave no ambiguity over the dim view we take of this situation.
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Halfpenny and Thomas claim Wales starts

Posted on Feb 9, 2010 in Rugby News

Wales have made two changes from the starting line-up defeated by England at Twickenham in the RBS 6 Nations opener last weekend for the visit of Scotland to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.00pm).  In the second row Osprey Jonathan Thomas reforms his regional partnership with Alun-Wyn Jones at the expense of Dragons lock Luke Charteris. In the backs Leigh Halfpenny comes in for his Blues colleague Tom James on the wing.

Gethin Jenkins has recovered from his calf injury to be named on the bench and, in one of three changes there, he joins fellow Blues players Sam Warburton, who covers the back row, and centre or wing Tom Shanklin.

“Jonathan brings over 50 caps of experience to the tight five and offers us some extra mobility around the field,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.

“Leigh is a recognised right wing who offers us an extra kicking option and his return to full fitness after limited training in the run up to the England game allows his selection.

“We think we have a very strong bench with the right mix of players each able to make an impact if called upon and are pleased to be able to name Gethin although he will undergo further fitness assessments later in the week.

“Tom Shanklin returns to provide another 65-caps worth of experience as cover for the backs and Sam Warburton comes in as back row cover with JT (Jonathan Thomas) now having been nominated as a starting second row.”

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