Preview: Premiership, Round 21
Unbeaten at home in the Premiership this season, the Sharks had to settle for two bonus points away to Bath last weekend in a thrilling game at the Rec.
Now they return to the AJ Bell Stadium knowing that a win could potentially secure their spot in the top six with a round of the regular season still to go.
Taylor, who will join Wasps at the end of the season, is expecting a tough battle against the Cherry & Whites, but is desperate to see his current team into Europe's top competition before he goes.
"A top six finish would be great, bringing Champions Cup rugby back to Manchester is huge and would bring the crowds in, that's what the lads get excited for, that's what you want to do in your career, play against the best sides, that's huge.
"We always target top six at the start of the season, and evaluate, we were close to the top four at one point, a few bad results, but then we got back into the mix, and we obviously want to finish fifth.
"We've got two games now which we'll go into confidently.
"Gloucester are very strong out wide and in the pack – there's no bad team in the Premiership this season.
"You've got the likes of Matt Kvesic around the ball, so that's something we've got to work on this week, whereas in the Bath and Montpellier games we struggled with physicality."
Sale could yet make it into the top four, although that will require other results going their way, and any hopes would end with defeat this weekend.
Gloucester have only won once on the road in the league this season, but Scotland scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw wants them to show they can challenge the Sharks, despite their formidable home record.
"We're under no illusions that it's going to be a hard game but in the same stride we need to back ourselves and be confident in each other and the structures we put in place," Laidlaw said.
"Sale are a strong side, especially at home, they've shown that all season having only been beaten once by Montpellier in Europe. They'll be keen to protect their record.
"On the other side of the fence we'll be looking to put in a good performance and finish as high up the Premiership as we can."
We take a look at all the Round 21 action!
Friday:
Sale Sharks v Gloucester
(AJ Bell Stadium – Kick-off: 19.45; 18.45 GMT)
Sale Sharks – the only side in the competition with an unbeaten home record this season – must win this game to stay in contention for a top four spot, at least until the results of Saturday's games are known.
Gloucester must also win to keep themselves in contention for a European Champions Cup spot in 2016-17. Their victory at home to Exeter Chiefs in Round 20 ended a four match losing run in the Premiership. Gloucester have won just once away from home in the tournament since Round One – in Round 11 at Bath.
Gloucester's most recent victory on Sale soil in the Premiership was at Heywood Road in September 2001.
Teams:
Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Will Addison, 13 Sam James, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Nev Edwards, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 TJ Ioane, 7 David Seymour (captain), 6 Cameron Neild, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Jonathan Mills, 20 Mark Easter, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Mark Jennings.
Gloucester: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Rob Cook, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Paul Doran-Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Yann Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cole, 17 Nick Wood, 18 John Afoa, 19 Ben Morgan, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Mark Atkinson, 23 Lewis Ludlow.
Referee: Thomas Foley
Assistant Referees: Ross Campbell, Simon McConnell
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Saturday:
Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors
(Welford Road – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
A Leicester Tigers victory would see them claim a place in the semifinals for the 12th straight year.
Worcester Warriors have lost their last two Premiership matches conceding eight tries and at least 50 points on each occasion.
Leicester have won their last 11 Premiership encounters with Worcester since the Warriors 23-19 victory at Sixways in March 2008. Worcester have never won at Welford Road in a dozen previous visits since 1895.
Teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Peter Betham, 12 Mathew Tait, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Opeti Fonua, 7 Lachlan McCaffrey, 6 Ed Slater (captain), 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Dom Barrow, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Greg Bateman, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Will Evans, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Tommy Bell, 23 Matt Smith.
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Andy Symons, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 GJ van Velze (captain), 7 Carl Kirwan, 6 Phil Dowson, 5 Darren Barry, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Na’ama Leleimalefaga, 18 James Johnston, 19 Donncha O’Callaghan, 20 Sam Betty, 21 Luke Baldwin,22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Dean Hammond.
Referee: Gregory Garner
Assistant referees: Jonathan Healy, Kevin Stewart
TMO: David Rose
Northampton Saints v Bath
(Franklin's Gardens – Kick-off: 15.15; 14.15 GMT)
Realistically Northampton Saints need to win to keep in the mix for a European Champions Cup spot next season.
Bath have won three of their last five matches in the Premiership and conceded a try bonus point in each of their last three. Bath's only win on the road since February came on a trip to Gloucester in Round 18.
The Saints are unbeaten in their last nine Premiership fixtures against Bath since Bath's 38-8 victory at The Recreation Ground in February 2011. Bath have won just once at Franklin's Gardens since 2000: 37-30 against Saracens in the Premiership in November 2004.
Teams:
Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson (captain), 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Campese Ma’Afu, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Victor Matfield, 20 Ben Nutley, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Harry Mallinder.
Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Jeff Williams, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Chris Cook, 8 David Denton, 7 Francois Louw (captain), 6 Matt Garvey, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Charlie Ewels, 3 David Wilson, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Nathan Catt.
Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Leroy Houston, 21 Will Homer, 22 George Ford, 23 Max Clark.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Paul Burton, Nigel Carrick
TMO: Sean Davey
Sunday:
Exeter Chiefs v Wasps
(Sandy Park – Kick-off: 13.00; 12.00 GMT)
Exeter Chiefs have already secured a semifinal spot for the first time just six seasons after they were promoted into England's top flight.
Wasps have already secured a semifinal berth for the first time since they won the Premiership title in 2007-08. A bonus point victory against Exeter would ensure that the semi-final is played at home. Wasps solitary defeat in the last 12 rounds of the Premiership was 10-13 at Gloucester on 5th March.
The two sides have already met twice this season, both at the Ricoh Arena with Chiefs winning in the Premiership in December and Wasps in the quarterfinal of the Champions Cup in April. Wasps have been defeated in all six previous visits to Sandy Park in all tournaments whilst their only win on Exeter soil in competitive rugby was at the County Ground in the quarterfinal of the Pilkington Cup in February 1995.
Teams:
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson (captain), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Don Armand, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Carl Rimmer, 19 Damian Welch, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Sam Hill, 23 James Short.
Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 George Smith, 6 James Haskell (captain), 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Carlo Festuccia 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Craig Hampson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Rob Miller.
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Paul Dix, Ashley Rowden
TMO: Graham Hughes
London Irish v Harlequins
(Madejski Stadium – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)
London Irish must win and hope other results go in their favour to give themselves a lifeline at the foot of the Premiership table and prevent them finishing 12th in the table for the first time since 1995-96. The Exiles have won just one of their last nine Premiership Rugby matches: 23-18 at home to Gloucester in Round 17.
Harlequins probably need to win to keep themselves in with a short of securing an automatic place in next season's European Champions Cup, although they do have an alternative route if they win this season's Challenge Cup Final against Montpellier.
Harlequins only loss in their last 11 encounters with London Irish in all tournaments was 13-18 at Madejski Stadium in the Premiership in October 2013.
Teams:
London Irish: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Fergus Mulchrone, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 10 Theo Brophy Clews, 9 Scott Steele, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Luke Narraway (captain), 5 Matt Symons, 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 David Paice, 1 Tom Smallbone.
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Johnny Harris, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Ciaran Hearn.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 George Lowe, 12 Winston Stanley, 11 Charlie Walker, 10 Ben Botica, 9 Danny Care (captain), 8 Nick Easter, 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Jack Clifford, 5 Sam Twomey, 4 James Horwill, 3 Will Collier, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Mark Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Mat Luamanu, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Nick Evans, 23 Ross Chisholm.
Referee: John-Paul Doyle
Assistant referees: Robin Goodliffe, Andrew Pearce
TMO: Keith Lewis
Saracens v Newcastle
(Allianz Park – Kick-off: 15.15; 14.15 GMT)
Saracens have already qualified for a seventh straight semifinal spot and have won their last five matches in all tournaments since their defeat at Leicester in Round 17 of the Premiership.
The Falcons have not won away from home in the Premiership since a trip to London Welsh in October 2014, although they did draw 15-all at Sale in November.
Saracens have won their last 13 fixtures against the Falcons in all tournaments since Newcastle's 13-9 victory at Kingston Park in February 2009. The Falcons only victory on Saracens soil since 2001 came on a trip to Vicarage Road on 30 December 2007.
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt (captain), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil De Kock, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Jared Saunders, 1 Richard Barrington.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Hayden Smith, 20 Kelly Brown, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Nick Tompkins.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Michael Young, 8 Mark Wilson, 7 Dan Temm, 6 Will Welch (captain), 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Taione Vea, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Rob Vickers.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Andrew Foster, 19 Calum Green, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Ruki Tipuna, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Tom Penny.
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Phil Watters, Roy Maybank
TMO: David Grashoff
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