Having missed out on the play-offs last time around due to a covid-related cancellation against Worcester, Sale Sharks are in no mood to do so again.
Under Alex Sanderson they have evolved as a team and whilst they are still some way off being the finished article, they are still ahead of Bath in their development.
For Stuart Hooper’s Bath, it always seems to be a case of one step forwards and two steps back, and another season of mid-table mediocrity beckons. Criminal really when you think of the talent they’ve got in the squad.
A win at Bath would almost certainly secure third-placed Sale their place in the top four and would make life a lot easier because, in the remaining three rounds, they face their play-off rivals, Bristol, Harlequins and Exeter, where they can’t be guaranteed a win.
With the top eight qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup, Bath, in seventh, still have something to aim for but the disappointment of missing out on a place in the European Challenge Cup final to Montpellier will continue to haunt them.
Against Bristol in Round 18, Bath raced into a 15-0 lead but, even then, you never seriously thought they’d close out a much-needed victory as Bristol had butchered several chances and always looked like they would eventually come good.
Sharks show some bite in foreign waters
Sale have shown a real resilience away from home this season, none more so than when winning at Wasps, despite having four men sent to the sin bin, and we fancy them to win for the first time in four attempts against Bath.
Games are often won and lost up front, and Bath have creaked at scrum time of late whilst Sale are on the up in this crucial aspect of the game. With a solid platform for their big ball carriers to launch attacks from, the Sharks will put Bath’s defence under severe pressure and the card count could well be high again, but this time in their favour.
The Sharks have the luxury of naming an unchanged front-row of Bevan Rodd, Akker van der Merwe and Coenie Oosthuizen as they chase their first win at The Rec since 2014.
But Bath have been forced into another rejig with Will Stuart, Tom Dunn and Beno Obano notable absentees. Props Juan Shoeman and Henry Thomas cough up their fair share of penalties, while hooker Jacques du Toit makes his first Premiership start.
AJ MacGinty will gladly accept any opportunities at goal that come his way and the US Eagles’ kicking duel with fit-again Rhys Priestland could be another big factor in a match-up that tends to be on the low-scoring side.
Bath: 15. Tom de Glanville, 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Max Clark, 12. Cameron Redpath, 11. Will Muir, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Will Chudley; 1. Juan Schoeman, 2. Jacques du Toit, 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Will Spencer, 5. Charlie Ewels ©, 6. Josh Bayliss, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Zach Mercer
Replacements: 16. Tom Doughty, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Josh McNally, 20. Taulupe Faletau, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Orlando Bailey, 23. Joe Cokanasiga.
Sale Sharks: 15. Simon Hammersley, 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Sam James, 12. Sam Hill, 11. Marland Yarde, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. James Phillips, 5. Jean-Pierre du Preez, 6. Cobus Wiese, 7. Tom Curry (Capt.) 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements: 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. James Harper, 19. Cameron Neild, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Kieran Wilkinson, 23. Connor Doherty.
