Sale v Toulon: Peter Stringer boosts Sharks for Champions Cup clash
By Tony Tighe
Last Updated: 21/10/16 10:12pm
Sale welcome scrum-half Peter Stringer back from injury for Friday's Champions Cup clash with Toulon at the AJ Bell Stadium.
The former Ireland international has recovered from the bicep injury he suffered against Worcester last month and is one of five changes to the team that fell to a disappointing defeat at the Scarlets in their opening Pool 3 fixture.
Sam James switches from inside centre to fly-half to partner Stringer in the half-backs while Mark Jennings comes into the midfield for his first appearance of the season.
Magnus Lund replaces David Seymour in the back row with Andrei Ostrikov preferred to Jonathan Mills at lock.
Sale have lost their last 12 Champions Cup games and suffered their heaviest ever loss when they last met Toulon in 2012, the 62-0 scoreline also ranking as the three-time winners' biggest victory.
Toulon make four changes to the team that lost their unbeaten home record in the competition against Saracens last weekend.
James O'Connor replaces the injured Josua Tuisova on the wing while Mathieu Bastareaud comes in to partner Ma'a Nonu in the centres.
France international Xavier Chiocci starts at loosehead with Romain Taofifenua preferred to former Northampton forward Samu Manoa in the second row.
Toulon have won four of their six away games against Premiership opposition, including a 17-6 win at the AJ Bell Stadium four years ago.
Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Will Addison, 12 Mark Jennings, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Sam James, 9 Peter Stringer; 1 Ross Harrison, 2 Neil Briggs, 3 Brian Mujati, 4 Bryn Evans, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 6 Cameron Neild, 7 Magnus Lund, 8 Josh Beaumont (c).
Replacements: 16 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 17 Halani Aulika, 18 Jonathan Mills, 19 David Seymour, 20 Tom Curry, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Dan Mugford, 23 Sam Bedlow.
Toulon: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Eric Escande; 1 Xavier Chiocci, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Levan Chilachava, 4 Mamuka Gorgodze, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 6 Charles Ollivon, 7 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c).
Replacements: 16 Anthony Etrillard, 17 Laurent Delboulbes, 18 Marcel Van Der Merwe, 19 Samu Manoa, 20 Matt Carraro, 21 Pierre Bernard, 22 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 23 Jocelino Suta.
