Agen v Sale: Teams
Sale will hand a debut to Russia international Andrei Ostrikov in the Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Agen.
Last Updated: 07/12/11 2:12pm
Sale will hand a debut to Russia international Andrei Ostrikov in the Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Agen.
The 24-year-old lock previously played for Agen before moving to the Sharks via Aurillac.
There are also places in the starting XV for Cillian Willis and Luther Burrell, while Rob Miller and Scott Mathie return from injury on the bench.
"We're taking a strong team and we need to build on the confidence provided by the win at Bath," said director of sport Steve Diamond.
"If we can win this game, we're 'back in it'. It comes down to beating Agen in the return, hopefully we can beat La Vila, then we'll need to win against Brive at home in January by more points than they beat us. That should be the way through. Thursday's match is a big game, and Agen is a great place to visit."
Agen have named former Toulouse and Biarritz fly-half Valentin Courrent in a starting line-up featuring USA international Kevin Swiryn and former Wales centre Jamie Robinson. Argentina prop Martin Scelzo has been named on the bench.
Agen: 15 Belisario Agulla, 14 Kevin Swiryn, 13 Miguel Avramovic, 12 Jamie Robinson, 11 Saimoni Vaka, 10 Valentin Courrent, 9 Alexi Bales, 8 Antoine Erbani, 7 Jerome Mondoulet, 5 Damien Lagrange, 4 Pat O'Connor, 3 Beka Sheklashvili, 2 Julien Janaudy, 1 Laurent Cabarry.
Replacements: 16 Jalil Narjissi, 17 John Schwalger, 18 Martin Scelzo, 19 Dewald Senekal, 20 Adri Badenhorst, 21 Sylvain Dupuy, 22 Mathieu Lamoulie.
Sale Sharks:15 Mark Cueto, 14 Luther Burrell, 13 Andrew Higgins, 12 Sam Tuitupou (capt), 11 Joaquin Tuculet, 10 Nick Macleod, 9 Cillian Willis, 8 Andy Powell, 7 David Seymour, 6 Richie Vernon, 5 James Gaskell, 4 Andrei Ostrikov, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Marc Jones, 1 Vadim Cobilas.
Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Kearnan Myall, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Tom Brady.