By Roth Admin
December 26 2003

It’s round 13 of the Zurich Premiership and Rotherham Titans make their first visit to Edgeley Park to take on Sale Sharks. The match kicks off at 3pm and Rotherham will be hoping to build on their best performance of the season against London Irish last Saturday. England’s Jason Robinson will play his first Zurich Premiership game of the season for Sale Sharks and this will be only his second appearance at the club’s new home, he played in the narrow Heineken Cup victory over Cardiff Blues there earlier in the month. In addition Sale hope to have Alex Sanderson and Bryan Redpath fit again, after injury kept them out of the Sharks’ last two games. They will both have late fitness tests, but have been included in the squad. Also back from England duty are Andrew Sheridan, Andy Titterrell.

Sale coach Jim Mallinder commented, “Rotherham will be difficult because they have strengthened their squad with several experienced South Africans and pushed London Irish close last week. They may be at the bottom of the table but there are no easy games in this league and we will need to be at our best.”

Sale have won all three of their previous Premiership fixtures against Rotherham. Sharks beat the Titans 28-14 when the two met at Millmoor in October, with Stuart Pinkerton Mark Cueto and Graham Bond scoring tries and Braam van Straaten kicking 13 points. Chris Johnson and James Cockle scored Rotherham’s tries, with Jason Strange adding the conversions. When last in the Premiership Sale won 39-13 at Clifton Lane and 45-12 at Heywood Road.

Sale Sharks squad: Jason Robinson, Vaughan Going, Mark Cueto, Steve Hanley, James Hoyle, Chris Mayor, Jos Baxendell, Braam van Straaten, Graeme Bond, Charlie Hodgson, Nick Walshe, Bryan Redpath, Richard Wigglesworth, Kevin Yates, Andrew Sheridan, Barry Stewart, Stuart Turner, Andy Titterrell, Matt Cairns, Johnny Roddam, Iain Fullarton, Dean Schofield, Chris Jones, Jason White, Alex Sanderson, Magnus Lund, Stu Pinkerton.

Rotherham’s Director of Rugby Steph Nel said of Sale Sharks, “They can attack you from anywhere and everywhere, they’ve got lots of pace. They’ve also managed to strengthen their squad. Their pack of forwards are no longer the pushovers they were three years ago. They are a well balanced outfit and if you don’t stop them at source – you might run into serious trouble.”

Nel has been unable to confirm a definite squad due to illness and injury, but the following squad is expected to be named if all come through.

Provisional Squad: Stortoni, Pieters, Jorgensen, Keyter, Wood, Benson, Easterby, Rauluni, Jones, Blackett, Umaga, Pritchard, Lloyd, Johnson, Noon, Volschenk, Gross, Greef, Van der Merwe, Mcleod-Henderson, Rawson, Olckers, Pendlebury, Spence, Lewis, Long.