Gloucester determined

By BEN JAYCOCK

PREVIEW…

Sale v Gloucester

Today. Kick-off 2pm

WOMEN'S Premiership pacesetters Gloucester-Hartpury face bottom side Sale for the second time in a week.

Last Sunday saw Gloucester-Hartpury beat the Sharks 29-3 to continue the Cherry and Whites' faultless campaign, remaining unbeaten in their opening 10 fixtures.

Head coach Sean Lynn has made 10 changes as Wales lock Bethan Lewis returns alongside Siobhan McCarthy, who makes her

first start of the season after an impressive cameo off the bench last weekend.

A new front row sees El Perry, Kelsey Jones and Maud Muir come in while in the backs, Natasha ‘Mo' Hunt captains the side from scrum-half, after being used from the bench last week. Hannah Jones, who made her return from injury last Sunday, starts in the centre.

Lynn said: “We got the win but we just didn't perform, especially in the first half. What was really pleasing was that I asked for a reaction in the second half and that's what we got. We need to make sure we improve in the next three games and Sale away on Sunday is a big one.

“Having Hannah Jones off the bench, she was very good in the way she managed the players. The feedback from the youngsters was that it was very nice to have Hannah back.”

Sale back row Morwenna Talling has settled in well on and off the pitch and has earned international plaudits with England but her side have endured a tricky league run with just one win in their opening ten games.

Talling said: “We've had a very tough start to the season and injuries don't help that, but we have shown what we can beat teams like Harlequins and nobody expected that.

“We're going to strive to be the best that we can be back roared the Chiefs to do the double over Sharks

and focus on what's immediately ahead. I think we've shown what we can do.

“I've had some great opportunities here to develop my leadership skills and the team is pretty special.

I'm proud to wear my England shirt and I'm proud to wear my Sale shirt.”

Sale scrum-half Mhairi Grieve is out after receiving a three match ban after being cited for a high tackle during the defeat to Exeter. The ban can be reduced to two if Grieve undertakes a coaching intervention programme.

Holly Thorpe is back on the wing, lock Molly Morrissey returns to the starting XV and flanker Polly Bowman makes her first start of the season.