Clermont Auvergne full-back and European Champions Cup player of the year Nick Abendanon plus Toulon forward Steffon Armitage, who won the accolade last year, did not get a look in for the 50-man World Cup training squad, something Mark Cueto has little sympathy for.

One lucky 14-16 year-old will lead the teams out at a Rugby World Cup fixture in Manchester, experiencing first-hand the atmosphere and what it’s like to be a professional rugby player.

Premiership player of year George Ford and Owen Farrell – a British & Irish Lion and still just 23 – will go head-to-head in pursuit of the fly-half starting berth at this year’s World Cup with Danny Cipriani waiting in the wings.

Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond was frustrated after the game with the result leaving his side eight points adrift of the top six with just two games to play and needing some fortune to qualify for European action next season.

Sale, who welcome their London opponents at 2pm this afternoon, lie seventh in the Aviva Premiership though after a weak display against London Irish two weeks ago they are five points behind sixth-placed Wasps.

With the start of next year’s domestic season delayed because of England hosting the Rugby World Cup, Sale Sharks will face off against fellow Aviva Premiership teams Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Falcons in a Kings of the North tournament prior to the World Cup.

Sale Sharks were in command against London Irish before half-time when Danny Cipriani’s pass was fumbled allowing Andrew Fenby to score and give the home side the advantage at the interval.

Sale sit in seventh place with a European spot firmly in their sights, but with just eight points separating them from fourth a challenge for the play-offs still remains a possibility.

Sale Sharks currently lie in seventh place just one point behind Wasps, who occupy the all-important final European spot with four Premiership matches to go.

Johnny Leota and Josh Beaumont scored the tries for Sale while Danny Cipriani showed his quality scoring 13 points with the boot in tricky conditions as Sale prevailed 23-6 over Gloucester.

Sale Sharks and England fly-half Danny Cipriani only played 39 minutes during the Six Nations, appearing off the bench in various positions against Italy, Scotland and France, but full-back Mike Brown thinks he can make an impact at the World Cup later this year.