Sale vs Durban Sharks Prediction: Visitors can run Sale close

It’s round three of the Investec Champions Cup and one of the standout fixtures sees Sharks face Sharks (17:30, Premier Sports 2) as Sale and Durban go head-to-head. The English club are just one point ahead of their opponents in Pool 1, with both teams winning one and losing one of their opening two matches.

Sale go into this clash having lost two of their last three fixtures at the CorpAcq Stadium and their South African opponents will believe they can build on their recent win over Saracens. Read on for my Sale vs Durban Sharks predictions.

Sale vs Durban Sharks Odds

Sale, who were beaten 19-17 by Bristol Bears domestically last weekend, can be backed at 1/10 to claim a home success.

Durban are visiting Sale for the first time and are available at 6/1 to bag an away victory, while the draw is priced at 33/1.

Team News

Sale have made three changes to the side that started the defeat at Bristol last time out, with winger Obi Ene set to make his first Champions Cup start.

Ene has impressed in a recent loan spell at Caldy and has been handed the chance to shine, while coach Alex Sanderson has also made changes at scrum half and hooker.

Gus Warr returns to wear the number nine shirt, with the Scotland star back in the starting XV due to an injury suffered by Raffi Quirke last week.

Meanwhile, Nathan Jibulu starts in the pack in place of England international Luke Cowan-Dickie, with Ethan Caine the replacement hooker.

The visitors have also made three changes to their starting line-up, including the welcome return of Springboks prop Vincent Koch.

The 62-cap South African international has recovered from a shoulder problem that saw him sidelined for two months.

Elsewhere, Corne Rahl partners Emile van Heerden in the second row, having made his return off the bench in last week’s game against the Lions.

Flanker Nick Hatton will lead the visitors, having captained the Sharks in their first-round clash with Toulouse.

Three other Springboks players have been left behind in South Africa though, with Siya Kolisi, Grant Williams and Aphelele Fassi missing out.

Handicap - Durban Sharks +18 @ 10/11

All three of Sale’s Premiership wins have come on home soil, but Sanderson’s men have lost two of their last three fixtures.

A 47-21 defeat at home to Northampton in December was followed up with a comfortable home win over Harlequins on Boxing Day.

They go into this clash after a two-point defeat at Bristol and Sale did lose their last Champions Cup home match, going down 26-21 to Glasgow Warriors.

Durban Sharks claimed their first win of this season’s tournament with a 28-23 home victory over Saracens, having suffered a heavy defeat at Toulouse prior to that.

Several of their internationals have been left at home, but having key players returning from injury and needing game time should see a much improved performance on Saturday.

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