Cueto out of Saracens clash
Mark Cueto has failed a late fitness test and will miss this weekend’s big Guinness Premiership clash with Saracens at Vicarage Road.
The England wing’s absence will be a big blow for the Sharks but head coach Kingsley Jones has named Marika Vakacegu on the wing and Oriol Ripol on the bench in order to try and fill the void.
Speaking ahead of the big game Jones said: “The players are up for this game having had the weekend off last week.
“Saracens however deserve our full respect, they are top of the table and had eight straight Premiership wins before drawing at Worcester last weekend. We are looking forward to it and we hope to put on a good show in front of the television cameras.”
In other team news, Noah Cato returns to the starting line-up and inside centre Adam Powell makes his first start of the season. Moses Rauluni comes in to start the game and USA international Hayden Smith gets the nod in the second row.
With Neil de Kock ruled out through injury, Kevin Barrett away with England 7s and Justin Marshall unavailable because of a prior commitment, Academy scrum half Luke Baldwin is named on the bench.
Sarries go into the game having won eight out of nine matches in the Guinness Premiership but Director of Rugby Brendan Venter knows his side faces a tough test against Sale Sharks.
“They are a side who have talented players across the pitch and in Charlie Hodgson, they have a fly half and play maker who can turn games in an instant,” said Venter.
“So the message I have given the players this week is clear – we must work harder and harder in every game to get the results we want. Working hard off the ball has seen us concede just four tries this season while working hard on the ball has taken us to eight wins in the competition.
“The effort and commitment levels from the players has been magnificent this season, but we have to increase those every game we play.”
The teams:
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Moses Rauluni, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Andy Saull, 6 Wikus van Heerden, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 Steve Borthwick (captain), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Kasiano Lealamanua, 18 Richard Skuse, 19 Hugh Vyvyan, 20 Don Barrell, 21 Luke Baldwin, 22 Brad Barritt, 23 Rodd Penney.
Sale: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Marika Vakacegu, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 David Bishop, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 David Seymour, 6 Carl Fearns, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Dean Schofield, 3 Jack Forster, 2 Neil Briggs, 1 Eifion Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Rob O’Donnell, 18 Martin Halsall, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Kristian Ormsby, 21 Dwayne Peel, 22 Chris Bell, 23 Oriol Ripol.
Date: Saturday, December 5
Kick-off: 17.35 GMT
Venue: Vicarage Road
Referee: Dave Pearson
Assistant referees: Roy Maybank, Stuart Terheege
TMO: Bob Ockenden, Geoff Warren
