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Ben Curry returns to lead Sale Sharks after breakthrough Six Nations
By Josh Raisey
England flanker Ben Curry will captain his Sale Sharks side against Newcastle Falcons on Friday in the Gallagher Premiership, six days after his player of the match performance against Wales in the Guinness Six Nations.
The 11-cap England international enjoyed an outstanding Championship, launching himself right into British and Irish Lions contention, with starts against Ireland and Wales, and impactful contributions from the bench against France, Scotland and Italy.
The flanker will head straight back into domestic action against bottom-of-the-league Newcastle, but will not be joined by his brother Tom for the trip to Kingston Park. He will, however, play alongside England team-mates in Cardiff, George Ford and Tom Roebuck.
In his only appearance of the Championship, winger Roebuck enjoyed a try-scoring return to the England set-up in Cardiff. Ford, meanwhile, was limited to even less game time in the tournament, only featuring in a brief, but eye-catching, cameo from the bench against Wales.
England squad members Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour will start either side of the front-row after not featuring at all under Steve Borthwick over the past two months.
Victory for the hosts will reduce the gap between them and Exeter Chiefs at the bottom of the table, while a victory for Sale will keep them in the hunt for the play-offs.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Max Clark, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Philip van der Walt, 5 Kiran McDonald, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 7 Cameron Neild, 8 Callum Chick (c)
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Joe Davis, 22 Kieran Wilkinson, 23 Louis Brown
Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rekeiti Ma’asi White, 12 Rob du Preez, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford 9 Gus Warr, 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour 4 Ben Bamber, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 7 Ben Curry (c), 8 JL du Preez
Replacements:?16 Harry Thompson, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 WillGriff John, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Sam Bedlow, 23 Arron Reed
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That’s why we threw that game against you in the pool stages by playing Libbok at 10 who couldn’t split the uprights for love or money.
Go to commentsSo sad and sorry to hear yesterday about Alex Wyllies passing. When I first went to Lancaster Park , Grizz was the captain and no8. A fearsome legend. His time coaching Canterbury 1982-86 , was one of the highlights of my life. 82-85 , was Canterbury’s record equalling Ranfurly Shield era, culminating in the “Match of the Century” , when we lost it to Auckland . I was at that game and the rest, it was one for the ages. Inspired by Grizz Canterbury nearly won it, after being 24-0 down. In 1986 Canterbury thrashed the touring Wallabies, who went on to beat the All Blacks 2-1 in that test series.Alex Wyllie inspired 2 of the players who were huge parts of his Shield team, to become great coaches in there own right. They are of course , Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans . Canterbury /Crusaders and international legends. Robbie Deans was the goal kicking hero on many occasion in that era, none more than when he kicked the equalizing penalty against Counties in the first up Shield challenge, a game I was at. As with the rest of those games. Wayne Smith scored the try to claim the Shield in Wellington a week earlier It was a pleasure to meet Grizz on a number of occasions. Rest in peace Grizz. A red and black legend , first class. He was also an All Black and one of our greatest AB coaches.
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