Sale Sharks hosts Leicester Tigers on Saturday in the first meeting since scoring a home-and-away double in Aviva Premiership fixtures between the clubs last season.
Steve Diamond’s Sharks beat Tigers 10-3 at Welford Road in February and followed up with a 27-20 victory on home soil to record only a second Premiership double over their rivals.
Tigers’ most recent victory at the AJ Bell Stadium was in December 2014 when a last-minute try from Julian Salvi, converted by Tommy Bell, clinched a 32-30 win. Click here to recap the details from a dramatic day.
The two sides go into Saturday’s game with contrasting stories so far this season as Sharks have won one from four and drew 34-34 with Worcester Warriors last time out, while Tigers have lost lost just once in the opening four weeks.
Director of rugby Richard Cockerill has acknowledged, though, that performances in the opening three weeks were below what was expected from his team and they responded with three tries in a 34-14 win over Bath Rugby last Sunday.
Ahead of this week’s trip to the North-West, Cockerill said: “Sale are big and physical, they are a tough side to play against. Steve Diamond is a good motivator and drives the environment very hard.
“We had a good performance last week but it was one performance out of four. We need to make sure we back it up.”
Team announcements were made on Friday lunchtime, with Tigers confirming the return of Dom Barrow and Logovi’i Mulipola from injury and a first appearance for summer signing Tom Brady against his former club. Sharks include former Tigers duo Paolo Odogwu and Laurence Pearce.
Referee on Saturday is Mr Craig Maxwell-Keys.
Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Tigers will wear the club's alternate kit at the AJ Bell.
This game is not scheduled for live TV coverage. Aviva Premiership highlights are on BT Sport 1 at 9pm on Saturday. Sunday’s TV highlights are at 8pm on ITV4, 10.45pm BT Sport 1 and 11.15pm ITV.
Tigers return to home turf next Saturday for a Round 6 fixture against Worcester Warriors. Kick-off is at 3pm and match tickets are on general sale now. Book at Welford Road, phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2) or click here to book online. The office is open 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday, with online services available all day every day. A print-at-home function is available on online purchases.
Steve Diamond’s Sharks beat Tigers 10-3 at Welford Road in February and followed up with a 27-20 victory on home soil to record only a second Premiership double over their rivals.
Tigers’ most recent victory at the AJ Bell Stadium was in December 2014 when a last-minute try from Julian Salvi, converted by Tommy Bell, clinched a 32-30 win. Click here to recap the details from a dramatic day.
The two sides go into Saturday’s game with contrasting stories so far this season as Sharks have won one from four and drew 34-34 with Worcester Warriors last time out, while Tigers have lost lost just once in the opening four weeks.
Director of rugby Richard Cockerill has acknowledged, though, that performances in the opening three weeks were below what was expected from his team and they responded with three tries in a 34-14 win over Bath Rugby last Sunday.
Ahead of this week’s trip to the North-West, Cockerill said: “Sale are big and physical, they are a tough side to play against. Steve Diamond is a good motivator and drives the environment very hard.
“We had a good performance last week but it was one performance out of four. We need to make sure we back it up.”
Team announcements were made on Friday lunchtime, with Tigers confirming the return of Dom Barrow and Logovi’i Mulipola from injury and a first appearance for summer signing Tom Brady against his former club. Sharks include former Tigers duo Paolo Odogwu and Laurence Pearce.
Referee on Saturday is Mr Craig Maxwell-Keys.
Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Tigers will wear the club's alternate kit at the AJ Bell.
This game is not scheduled for live TV coverage. Aviva Premiership highlights are on BT Sport 1 at 9pm on Saturday. Sunday’s TV highlights are at 8pm on ITV4, 10.45pm BT Sport 1 and 11.15pm ITV.
Tigers return to home turf next Saturday for a Round 6 fixture against Worcester Warriors. Kick-off is at 3pm and match tickets are on general sale now. Book at Welford Road, phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2) or click here to book online. The office is open 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday, with online services available all day every day. A print-at-home function is available on online purchases.
