The Sale Sharks have named eight South Africans in their starting lineup for Friday’s English Premiership match in London.

Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond has announced a strong 23-man squad, including eight Saffas in the run-on XV, for the first Premiership match after the lengthy break in competition due to Covid-19.

Lock Lood de Jager will make his full club debut and be partnered in the second row by fellow Springbok Jean-Luc du Preez.

The forward pack also includes Springboks Coenie Oosthuizen, Akker van der Merwe and Dan du Preez as well as uncapped South African Jono Ross, who serves as team captain.

In the backline, Bok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk lines up alongside flyhalf Rob du Preez.

Sale – 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jono Ross (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jean-Luc du Preez, 3 Will-Griff John, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 James Phillips, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Will Cliff, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Denny Solomona.

Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images