Cliff up against old team-mates

SCRUM-HALF Will Cliff knows a muchimproved performance is needed if Sale are to beat his former side Bristol Bears tomorrow.

The Sharks lost their perfect record in the European Challenge Cup as they were beaten 17-14 by Bordeaux in dreadful conditions at the AJ Bell Stadium last weekend.

Cliff was an unused substitute in the match, which was also the clubs first home loss since September.

He said: “It wasn’t the best game on our behalf. There is plenty for us to work on, particularly our set-piece and our kicking game. It was a bit of a kick up the backside, we’ll sort ourselves out, and there are definitely things we can work on.” Cliff played for Bristol between 2015 and 2017 and started for them in the last game between the two sides back in January 2017 which ended in a 24-23 win for Bristol.

This before re-joining Sale for a second stint at the club after the West Country outfit were relegated from the Premiership.

And the man who this season has gone past 150 appearances for Sale, is excited by the prospect of lining up against some of his former team-mates. “I am looking forward it, and it’s a big game for us,” Cliff (pictured) added.“I’ve done it before when playing for Bristol against Sale, so it’s back the other way round now.

“A lot has changed down there from when I was there. They have a lot of new faces, they are a good side and going well, and it’s definitely one where you want to get one over on your old team.”

Bristol were promoted from the Championship last season and are seventh in the Gallagher Premiership with three wins, the most recent of which a 41-10 thumping of Leicester Tigers.

Sale sit 11th, four places and two points behind Pat Lam’s side.