Marland Yarde has recovered from injury and returns to the London Irish starting line-up for Friday's Aviva Premiership match against Sale Sharks at Salford City Stadium.
Sailosi Tagicakibau moves into the centres in place of Jonathan Joseph and Scott Lawson starts at hooker. Darren Allinson starts his first match of the season at scrum-half and will form a combination with Ian Humphreys. George Skivington is named as a replacement after recovering from injury.
"Friday evening will be a big test of how far we have come this season," said London Irish Director of Rugby Brian Smith.
"We played some great rugby last weekend and were disappointed not to see it through. We need to make amends tomorrow night. We face a difficult challenge; Sale are a good side with some great players so it will be a tough ask but one we are looking forward to."
Meanwhile, Sale Sharks have made just one change as Cameron Shepherd starts on the left wing meaning Mark Cueto shifts to the right wing and Tom Brady drops to the bench.
Mark Easter and Dwayne Peel join the replacements for James Gaskell and Nathan Fowles.
Form: Sale Sharks still await their first victory of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season, but at least doubled their tally of league points with their losing bonus point at Worcester last Friday. London Irish lost with the last play of the game against Harlequins at Madejski Stadium on Sunday. The Exiles' most recent two away wins in the Premiership have both come at Sixways, prior to that it was at Northampton on 17 September 2011. The two sides each won their respective home game when they met last season, whilst Sale are going for successive home wins over London Irish for the first time since 1999.
The teams:
Sale Sharks: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Cillian Willis, 8 Andy Powell 7 David Seymour (capt ), 6 Richie Vernon, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Vadim Cobilas, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Dwayne Peel, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Tom Brady.
London Irish: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Guy Armitage, 12 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Darren Allinson, 8 Chris Hala'ufia 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Declan Danaher (Captain), 5 Matt Garvey, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Max Lahiff.
Replacements: 16 Brian Blaney, 17 Cai Griffiths, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 George Skivington, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Steven Shingler, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Jack Moates.
Date: Friday, November 2
Venue: Salford City Stadium
Kick-off: 20.00 GMT
Referee: Sean Davey
Comments
runmunkii says...
I hate to say "I told you so", but...
@TVaddict Big fan of Marland, he's got a bright future.
Posted 03:50 03rd November 2012
APV1 says...
Sharks won. That's a turn up for the books!
Posted 22:37 02nd November 2012
APV1 says...
Sharks won. That's a turn up for the books!
Posted 22:37 02nd November 2012
TVaddict says...
@runmunkii
Agreed, I'd have preferred Shingler at 12. Saying that Irish have a wealth of talent on the wing. I don't feel Yarde has had the credit he deserves. He's epic under the high ball, always looks dangerous on the ball, looks for work and has bags of pace. Other than experience does he have any weaknesses?
Posted 15:12 02nd November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
OOOh Cameron Shepherd. Sneaking that one in under the radar. That should have it's own news article PR. Saints could do with him right now. Here's wishing him an excellent uninjured season. Wonder if Saints will drop Lawes soon? Hartley? Foden? I think Lawes is more injury prone than Shepherd....
Posted 00:03 02nd November 2012
runmunkii says...
Sailosi playing the centre? Yeah, 'cause that's worked everytime so far hasn't it? #facepalm
Posted 13:00 01st November 2012