Rodd given a Diamond opportunity to impress
SALE Sharks director of Rugby Steve Diamond has challenged Bevan Rodd to grab his opportunity with both hands after naming the young hooker in the starting XV to face Saracens.
The 19-year-old has been handed his first start for the club since joining the academy last season for the trip to Allianz Park today in the second round of the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Rodd produced an impressive cameo off the bench in Sale’s dominant 39-18 victory over defending champions Northampton Saints, providing the assist for Akker van der Merwe’s try. And having been rewarded with a place in the starting XV, Diamond has urged Rodd to kick on and make the most of the shot he has been given.
“I thought the squad put in a healthy performance against Northampton, and this week we are giving opportunities to the players that missed out on selection for that game.
“Bevan Rodd came on in the second half against Saints and impressed us, so he will start in the front row this weekend alongside Curtis Langdon.
“Bevan is a good ball carrier, he’s a big lad whose been with us for a year and he’s humble and hardworking. There’s an opportunity, there’s a shot for him. Hopefully he’s got a big future.”
Diamond continued: “It goes without saying that Saracens are always a tough opposition to face, whichever competition you are playing in.
“Having said that I am expecting a competitive performance from everybody involved at Allianz Park on Saturday.”
Rodd’s inclusion is one of 12 changes Diamond has made to the matchday squad that beat the Premiership Rugby Cup holders last time out at the AJ Bell Stadium.
He is joined in the front row by Jake Cooper-Woolley and Curtis Langdon, while Matt Postlethwaite is the only other change in the forwards as he takes Josh Beaumont’s place.
The backline also features an influx of young talent, boasting an average age of just 21, with South African Embrose Papier starting at scrum-half and Tom Curtis at fly-half.
Elsewhere, Tom Roebuck makes his first senior start of the season after a strong display in the Premiership Rugby Sevens as Cameron Redpath and Luke James come into the centres.
Diamond added: “The young players will get their opportunities all they’ve got to do is what’s normal. It’s easy to slip one or two in to a squad.
“To give them game time like we have done shows the reward for what they’ve done in practice.
“We have a squad who’ve not played together since May, so we have rested a couple of players.
“The aim is to pretty much give the lads who didn’t play against Northampton a game and then go pretty much full strength the last two cup games.”