Saracens back Olly Hartley against league leaders Sale after impressing in Europe
Saracens have handed 21-year-old centre Olly Hartley his first Gallagher Premiership start since round one after a two-try display against Connacht on Saturday in the Investec Champions Cup.
After coming on from the bench in Saracens' loss to the Bulls in Pretoria in round one, Hartley replaced Elliot Daly to partner Nick Tompkins in the midfield last weekend at the StoneX Stadium, scoring twice in the 55-36 victory. Director of rugby Mark McCall has gone for the same partnership for their trip to take on league leaders Sale Sharks tomorrow in a repeat of last season's final.
“Last weekend was a massive step forward so we want to improve on that performance," the former Wasps centre said.
"This game is a big test but we’re looking at it as another opportunity to get better.
"The experience really helps me. I can do my job and focus on that with so many good players around me who can give me great confidence."
After lining up against Bundee Aki, arguably the form centre in the world, last week, Hartley will be taking on Manu Tuilagi at the AJ Bell Stadium, so the challenges are coming thick and fast. Then again, at 6' 4", Hartley can certainly make his presence felt in the middle of the field as well.
Sale Sharks XV:
15. Joe Carpenter , 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Agustin Creevy, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Cobus Wiese 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez
Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam James, 23. Sam Bedlow
Saracens XV:
15 Alex Goode, 14 Lucio Cinti, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Ivan van Zyl, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Alec Clarey, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Theo McFarland, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Andy Christie, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Tom West, 18 Logovi’i Mulipola, 19 Hugh Tizard, 20 Toby Knight, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Manu Vunipola, 23 Tom Parton
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He basically described who Aaron Smith also considers the GOAT 9….the one & only Fourie du Preez😎
Go to commentsI’m hoping that the Reds can win their last 4 games with a couple of try bonus points. The pessimist in me wouldn't be surprised if the Drua and the Tahs knock the Reds over. The Reds may end up ruing the fact they were distinctly 2nd best against the Force and just so clunky against Moana Pasifica. The Brumbies should win all their remaining games with some bonus points giving them at least a top 2 finish as the leading Kiwi sides will take points off each other. How the Brumbies handle the fact that they will be expected to beat the Crusaders will fascinate me. You’d probably have to go back to 2001 for the last time the Brumbies would go into a game against the Crusaders nearly odds on to win.
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