Sale have the flair and firepower to make an impression on Bath

Premiership
BT Sport 2, 3pm Sunday

Underperforming pair Bath and Sale boast some serious pace in their back threes for their clash at the Rec and if the rain holds off this could be an open and entertaining game.

Bath give a first Premiership start to full-back Ruaridh McConnochie while Joe Cokanasiga is back on the wing after a successful foray with England and Semesa Rokoduguni is on the other flank. There's extra snap in attack too with livewire Kahn Fotuali'i starting at scrum-half.

Sale pack a punch out wide too with an all-international trio of Byron McGuigan, Denny Solomona and Chris Ashton, who slots in at full-back. There are plenty of playmaking options with Faf de Klerk and Rob du Preez in the half-back slot plus former Wallaby James O'Connor at 12.

For all that flair in the Sale backline, points have been hard to come by, and they are averaging just over 19 a game. Like Bath, they have won only three matches from eight in the Premiership, and all of those have come at home.

But they have been handed a demanding set of assignments on the road. After an opening-day defeat at Harlequins the Sharks have headed to Exeter, Leicester and Saracens, three of the toughest venues in the league.

Sale's last away trip ended in a creditable 31-25 defeat to Saracens, and with their big names back in the side they should click better in attack. Certainly a target of 20 points looks well within their reach.

Bath have beaten Northampton and Worcester at home but shipped five tries to Exeter and four against Gloucester and this has the makings of an open clash. The hosts are five-point handicap favourites.

Recommendation
Over 19.5 Sale points
2pts 10-11 Ladbrokes

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