Heineken Cup

Stade Marcel Michelin, Saturday, kick off 1.35pm

RICHARD Wigglesworth will make a surprise start at fly half in Sale's Heineken Cup opener against Clermont Auvergne tomorrow.

The England international scrum half keeps hold of the number 10 shirt after an impressive performance there in last week's narrow 18-17 defeat to Cardiff.

Regular fly half Charlie Hodgson is on the bench in a move which has likely been made with next week's Edgeley Park clash with Irish giants Munster in mind.

Sale also travel to France without injured England internationals Mathew Tait (hamstring) and Andrew Sheridan (arm) but both should be fit to face Munster.

That means Rory Lamont starts at full back, with Mark Cueto and David Doherty completing the back three.

Lee Thomas and Luke McAlister combine at centre, while Dwayne Peel lines up at scrum half.

Up front, prop Lionel Faure - capped three times by France - will get his chance to impress in Sheridan's absence. Neil Briggs and Eifion Roberts complete the front row.

Kristian Ormsby moves to the second row after impressing at flanker in recent weeks, partnering Chris Jones.

Meanwhile, Sebastien Chabal will be the main attraction in a back row that also features Juan Fernandez Lobbe and Luke Abraham.

Still on the road back to full fitness, Jason White is on the bench.

Clermont are without captain Aurelien Rougerie, who is currently injured but field a strong team packed with internationals.

The half back pairing of Pierre Mignoni and Brock James in one of the best in Europe and in Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga they have a supreme finisher.

Nalaga was top scorer in last season's Top 14, touching down 13 times.

Up front, veteran Argentinean hooker Mario Ledesma will provide strength and leadership, while captain Elvis Vermeulen is a ball-carrying presence.

Sharks: Rory Lamont; Mark Cueto, Luke McAlister, Lee Thomas, David Doherty; Richard Wigglesworth, Dwayne Peel; Lionel Faure, Neil Briggs, Eifion Roberts; Chris Jones, Kristian Ormsby; Juan Fernandez Lobbe (captain), Luke Abraham, Sebastien Chabal.

Replacements: Marc Jones, Stuart Turner, Jason White, Dean Schofield, Charlie Hodgson, Chris Bell, Rudi Keil.


Clermont: Anthony Floch; Napolioni Nalaga, Benoit Baby, Seremaia Bai, Julien Malzieu; Brock James, Pierre Mignoni; Laurent Emmanuelli, Mario Ledesma, Davit Zirakashvili; Julien Pierre, Thibaut Privat; Julien Bonnaire, Alexandre Audebert, Elvis Vermeulen (captain).

Replacements: Mirko Lozupone, Thomas Domingo, Christophe Samson, Emmanuel Etien, John Senio, Pierre-Manuel Garcia, Arnaud Mignardi.

Sharks director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre: "Games don’t come any tougher than this. Clermont topped the table in France last year and have started well this season.

"They will attack from the start and we need to be ready for them.

"It's been a difficult week preparing for the game with Mathew Tait pulling out with a sore hamstring but both he and Andrew Sheridan should be fit to return for the Munster game."