Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks team news: Pat Lam brings back rested big guns

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam has made nine changes to his matchday 23 for the visit of Sale Sharks to Ashton Gate on Friday night, bringing back a quartet of internationals to his starting XV as he looks to ensure there is no repeat of last season’s thrashing.

Argentina international Santiago Grondona is named on the blindside in the absence of the suspended Joe Batley who picked up a 20-minute red card in the victory over Newcastle Red Bulls last time out. With Joe Owen switches to second row as one of six changes from the side that beat Newcastle.

Ellis Genge, who has been shortlisted for Gallagher Player of the Month for December, starts at loosehead, with England’s Gabriel Oghre and Argentina’s Pedro Rubiolo also back in the starting XV after their impact from the bench against Newcastle. Kieran Marmion and Benjamin Grondona are also recalled to the matchday squad to add international experience later in the game.

In the backline, Benhard Janse van Rensburg comes back into the midfield, with Academy wing Aidan Boshoff also returning.

Wales speedster Louis Rees-Zammit, who this week signed a new long-term deal with the club, continues at full back after a blistering two-try display in round eight. Academy duo Sam Worsley and George Taylor are named among the replacements.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson has made two changes to his Sharks side as flanker Sam Dugdale and centre Rekeiti Ma’asi-White return to the starting XV after making their returns from injury as replacements last week.

Otherwise, it’s ‘as you were’ for the Sharks as they look to back up their impressive Boxing Day win against Harlequins and repeat their 0-38 win at Bristol from last season, the most recent of three successive wins at Ashton Gate having proven themselves to be something of a bogey side for the Bears.

Bristol Bears: 15. Louis Rees-Zammit, 14. Aidan Boshoff, 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12. James Williams, 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10. Tom Jordan, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. Lovejoy Chawatama, 4. Pedro Rubiolo, 5. Joe Owen, 6. Santiago Grondona, 7. Fitz Harding (c), 8. Viliame Mata

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Max Lahiff, 18. George Kloska, 19. George Taylor, 20. Benjamin Grondona, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Sam Worsley, 23. Noah Heward

Sale Sharks : 15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Alex Wills, 10. George Ford, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. James Harper, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Tom Curry

Replacements: 16. Nathan Jibulu, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. Patreece Bell, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Jos Gilmore, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Marius Louw, 23. Gurshwin Wehr

Referee: Joe James

Assistant referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys & Greg Macdonald

TMO: David Rose

Bristol Bears vs Sale Sharks team news: Pat Lam brings back rested big guns

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