Sale v Agen: Teams
Sale will be looking to keep pace with Pool 5 leaders Brive when they welcome Agen to Edgeley Park.
Last Updated: 16/12/11 5:40pm
Sale will be looking to keep pace with Pool 5 leaders Brive when they welcome Agen to Edgeley Park on Sunday.
Despite an impressive 29-14 win in the reverse fixture last time out, the Sharks know a bonus-point win could be vital in the final reckoning as they bid to reach the knockout stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Boss Steve Diamond has opted to ring the changes this week, including field an all-new front row of Al Dickinson, Tommy Taylor and Henry Thomas.
There is a first home start for Russian lock Andrei Ostrikov, who impressed in Agen last week, with James Gaskell moving to the back row.
In the backs, Rob Miller replaces Mark Cueto at full-back, Tom Brady returns on the right wing which means Luther Burrell switches flanks, taking over on the left-hand side from Joaquin Tuculet.
"The pressure of progressing in the Amlin Challenge Cup is there - we want to win it," Diamond said. "We're fielding a strong side.
"We know that Agen will be making changes after their Top 14 match last Tuesday, but their team will be in accordance with the competition rules, selected from their nominated squad.
"We know it will be a highly competitive game on Sunday, and we want our home crowd to be vociferous."
Sale: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Tom Brady, 13 Andy Higgins, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Luther Burrell, 10 Nick MacLeod, 9 Cillian Willis, 8 Richie Vernon, 7 David Seymour, 6 James Gaskell, 5 Andreï Ostrikov, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Lee Imiolek, 18 Vadim Cobilas, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Andy Powell, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 Sam Tuitupou, 23 Joaquin Tuculet
Agen: 15 Silvere Tian, 14 Belisario Agulla, 13 Miguel Avramovic, 12 Manu Ahotaeiloa, 11 Sylvain Dupuy, 10 Valentin Courrent, 9 Alexi Bales, 8 Antoine Erbani, 7 Jerome Mondoulet, 6 Pierre Julien, 5 Damien Lagrange, 4 Pat O'Connor, 3 Martin Scelzo, 2 Julien Janaudy, 1 Semisi Telefoni.
Replacements: 16 Laurent Cabarry, 17 Gert Muller, 18 Beka Sheklashvili, 19 Dewald Senekal, 20 Opéti Fonua, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Mathieu Lamoulie, 23 Jamie Robinson
