Hill axes skipper Schofield for Warriors clash with Sharks (From Worcester News)

Hill axes skipper Schofield for Warriors clash with Sharks

12:19pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in Sport By Tom Guest, @tomguestWN #WENsport

CAPTAIN Dean Schofield has been dropped for tomorrow night’s huge Aviva Premiership clash between Worcester Warriors and Sale Sharks at Sixways (8pm).

Head coach Richard Hill has made a massive call to leave out his skipper against the side he spent the best part of a decade at, while prop Matt Mullan will lead Warriors.

Schofield is one of four changes to the starting line-up that faced Wasps in the club's last league outing, with Craig Gillies, Semisi Taulava, Paul Hodgson and Errie Claassens all winning call-ups.

Scrum-half Hodgson is given a first league start for the Warriors, while Schofield and Chris Jones are named among the replacements and fit-again Ed Shervington is also called up.

Hill said: "We're looking forward to getting back into the Aviva Premiership after a spell in Europe. It has given other players the chance to stake their claim, but we are excited about the league and have some big games coming up.

"There are changes and it is only fair if players have worked hard that they are given a chance. We will have the most powerful squad out this season. The injury list has got gradually smaller and we only have a handful of players ruled out.

"That brings nice problems and I have real competition for places. It means one or two very good players will miss out, but I do expect them to come off the bench and make an impact."

Meanwhile, Sale have made nine changes to the XV that played Mont pellier in the Amlin Challenge Cup on Sunday with England Under 20 prop Ross Harrison making his first start.

Sharks' director of rugby Bryan Redpath said, “It’s a massive match for us - and for Worcester as well. They’ll be looking for a big performance after two high-scoring wins in the Amlin Challenge Cup and we had a great result against Cardiff, followed by a tough match at Montpellier.

“We’ve got make sure that we’re focused on the game, not on the table. Our emphasis is to be very disciplined and be clear about our game-plan. Away matches like this are tough and it will be a massive challenge for us.”

Warriors: Pennell; Claassens, Grove, Matavesi, Lemi; Goode, Hodgson; Mullan, Lutui, Andress, Percival, Gillies, Betty, Kvesic, Taulava. Replacements: Shervington, Ceri Jones, Currie, Schofield, Chris Jones, Arr, Carlisle, Fatiaki.

Sale: Macleod; Brady, Leota, Tuitupou, Cueto; Cipriani, Willis; Harrison, Taylor, Buckley, Gray, McKenzie, Vernon Seymour, Powell. Replacements: Ward, Lewis-Roberts, Cobilas, Myall, Gaskell, Fowles, Miller, Addison.