Sale Sharks team news ahead of Toulon match
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Rekeiti Ma’asi-White makes his first start of the season while England internationals Raffi Quirke, Asher Opoku-Fordjour and George Ford all return to the starting XV as Alex Sanderson makes six changes to his team for the visit of RC Toulon.
The Sharks Director of Rugby is able to call on the services of all three du Preez brothers and the Curry twins for the first time this season for Sunday’s make or break fixture against the French giants (live on Premier Sports, KO 5.30pm).
Alex has picked an all-England front-row with Opoku-Fordjour, fresh from signing a new three-year contract, joining fellow Six Nations call-ups Bevan Rodd and Luke Cowan-Dickie.
There’s one change in the second row, as Hyron Andrews keeps his place alongside Jean-Luc du Preez, who switches from blindside flanker. In the back row, captain Ben Curry joins twin brother Tom and they’ll start either side of number 8 Dan du Preez.
After missing the defeat to the Stormers and the Gallagher Premiership trip to Gloucester, George Ford is reunited with Raffi Quirke at half-back, and that means a return to the centres for the ever-present Rob du Preez, who will make his 150th Sharks appearance alongside Ma’asi-White.
In the back-three, Tom O’Flaherty and Tom Roebuck start on the wings and while Joe Carpenter starts at full-back.
Ethan Caine, Si McIntyre and WillGriff John will cover the front row from the replacements bench, with Ben Bamber and Ernst van Rhyn the other forwards.
Nye Thomas, Sam Bedlow and Arron Reed are the backs replacements.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Raffi Quirke, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. JL du Preez, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Tom Curry, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Dan du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Ben Bamber, 20. Ernst van Rhyn, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Arron Reed.
