Captain Ben Curry returns to the Sharks side as Alex Sanderson picks from a strong squad for the Investec Champions Cup last-16 tie against French giants Toulouse.
The Sharks Director of Rugby makes five changes to his side following last weekend’s Gallagher Premiership win against Northampton with Curry replacing Ben Bamber and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White returning in place of the injured Sam Bedlow at inside centre.
In the back three, Luke James starts in place of Joe Carpenter, who misses out with a calf injury, while Arron Reed replaces Tom O’Flaherty, who moves to the bench. In the front-row, an injury to Bevan Rodd means a start for Si McIntyre.
Alex has picked a powerful front-row for the fixture at the Stadium de Toulouse with hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie starting between props McIntyre and Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Ernst van Rhyn switches from the back-row to join Jonny Hill in the second-row while Ben Curry and Tom Curry join Jean-Luc du Prez in the back-row.
Gus Warr and George Ford will combine once again at half-back and they’ll have Ma’asi-White and Rob du Preez outside them in the centres.
In the back three, Scotland international Reed replaces last week’s player of the match Tom O’Flaherty on the left wing with Tom Roebuck starting on the right. James replaces the injured Joe Carpenter at 15.
Ross Harrison, Wales prop WillGriff John and hooker Tadgh McElroy are the front-row replacements with Hyron Andrews, Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale the other forwards on the bench.
Scrum-half Nye Thomas joins O’Flaherty on the replacements list.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Luke James, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford 9. Gus Warr, 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. JL du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Ben Bamber, 21. Sam Dugdale, 22. Nye Thomas, 23. Tom O’Flaherty.
Officials:
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)
Assistant referee 1: Dave Sutherland (Sco)
Assistant referee 2: Ruairidh Campbell (Sco)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
