Toulon have benched several of their top players for the Heineken Cup Pool match with Sale at Stade Félix Mayol.
The big-spending French outfit did not have things their all way at Salford City Stadium last week despite winning 17-6 against the English side.
But with a five-point lead in the Pool, Toulon have left such star names like Jonny Wilkinson, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Carl Hayman and Mathieu Bastareaud on the replacements bench.
Fred Michalak, Joe van Niekerk, Davit Kubriashvili and Maxime Mermoz have been handed starts in the respective players' places while Nick Kennedy and Gethin Jenkins will wear shirts five and one.
This will be the first visit to Stade Felix Mayol for Sale Sharks, who name Rob Miller on the left wing and Danny Cipriani wearing number ten.
Aston Croall makes a rare start at hooker while Mark Cueto is moved to outside centre.
The teams:
Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Rudi Wulf, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 David Smith, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Joe Van Niekerk, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Pierrick Gunther, 5 Nick Kennedy, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Sebastien Bruno, 17 Andrew Sheridan, 18 Carl Hayman, 19 Jocelino Suta, 20 Mathieu Bastareaud, 21 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 22 Jonny Wilkinson, 23 Simon Shaw.
Sale: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Mark Jennings, 13 Mark Cueto, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Rob Miller, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Richie Vernon, 7 David Seymour, 6 James Gaskell, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 2 Aston Croall, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruise, 17 Vadim Cobilas, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Andy Powell, 21 Cillian Willis, 22 Sam Tuitupou, 23 Charlie Amesbury.
Date: Sunday, December 16
Kick-off: 16:00 (15:00 GMT)
Venue: Stade Félix Mayol
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Paul Haycock (Ireland), Brian MacNiece (Ireland)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Comments
sirtidychris says...
@leinster goy
Well it certainly is mission impossible for sale.........i'll just get my coat
Posted 23:50 14th December 2012
Toulousain says...
The RCT bench looks a little weak to me. Definitely B list celebs there....
Posted 16:17 14th December 2012
leinster_goy says...
tom cruise: hooker for sale!?
Posted 14:12 14th December 2012