Sports
Bomani Jones says Sean McVay is not a quarterback whisperer
Bomani Jones challenges the notion of Sean McVay as a quarterback whisperer.
Yahoo Sports1 min read
SportsPreview
Gloucester and Sale make team tweaks for Prem meet
TL;DR
Gloucester and Sale aim for consecutive Premiership wins as the season approaches its final rounds. With only seven points separating fourth to sixth place, the upcoming matches are crucial for playoff contention.
Key points
- Gloucester and Sale seek back-to-back wins
- Only four rounds remain in the Premiership season
- Seven points separate fourth and sixth place
- Three matches feature top playoff contenders
Gloucester and Sale are both looking for back to back Prem wins for the first time this season [Getty Images]
There are now just four rounds of the Prem season to go so it is safe to say we really are in the business end of the campaign.
Twenty points might separate first from sixth in the table but there are only seven points between fourth and sixth.
Tantalisingly, this weekend's round of matches features three games where all six of the teams still in the fight for the play-off spots go head to head.
You can listen to coverage of all of the matches on BBC DAB and FM local radio, via BBC Sounds or the BBC Sport website and app.
Gloucester v Sale (Friday)
Having earned a morale-boosting, much-needed win against Exeter in their last outing, Gloucester's George Skvington has stuck with almost the same line-up as the Cherry and Whites look to close the gap on Sale, seven points above them in the table.
Hooker Seb Blake returns after missing the win against the Chiefs, while Lewis Ludlow drops out with injury and James Venter comes into the back row.
Sale have made four changes to their starting XV as they also look to record back-to-back wins away from home having beaten Harlequins in their last game.
Joe Carpenter starts at full-back, Marius Louw comes into the centre and Hyron Andrews comes into a shuffled forward pack.
Gloucester: Barton; Joseph, Llewellyn, S. Atkinson, Loader; C. Atkinson, Williams (c); Rapava-Ruskin, Blake, Clark; Alemanno, Thomas, Venter, Trenholm.
Replacements: Innard, Bleuler, Knight, Eite, Gwynne, Clement. Englesfield, Edwards-Giraud.
Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, Louw, Ma'asi-White, O'Flaherty; Ford, Warr; McEachran, Longstaff, Opoku-Fordjour; Andrews, Bamber, Van Rhyn (c), Vermeulen, Dugdale.
Replacements: Austin, Onasanya, Harper, Woodman, Kelly, Hanson, James, Reed.
Leicester v Northampton (Saturday)
Team news to come.
Bristol v Saracens (Saturday)
Team news to come.
Newcastle v Harlequins (Sunday)
Team news to come.
Exeter v Bath
Team news to come.
Q&A
What teams are competing for playoff spots in the Premiership?
The teams competing for playoff spots include Gloucester, Sale, and others in the top six of the table.
How many rounds are left in the Premiership season?
There are four rounds left in the Premiership season.
What is the point difference between the top teams in the Premiership?
There is a twenty-point difference between the first and sixth teams, with only seven points separating fourth from sixth.
