Sale Sharks take on the “Barcelona of rugby” when they meet Toulon in the European Rugby Champions Cup at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Reflecting on the side’s big clash, Steve Diamond, Director of Rugby at Sale said: “In football terms it’s a bit like Barcelona coming to town, because Toulon are the biggest club in world rugby and we’ll see how good they are.
“The players have got a plan to put in place and if they get that right and put in a really good performance, then perhaps we’ll get win. By virtue of us not losing many games over the last four years at home, it makes it a difficult place for sides to come to.
Diamond has made five changes to his side which lost to Scarlets in the opening round of the European Rugby Champions Cup. Mark Jennings is set to make his first appearance of the season. Sam James starts at fly-half for the first time this season. Peter Stringer has recovered from his bicep injury to start a game for the first time since the side’s draw to Worcester Warriors in September. Magnus Lund also starts a game for the first time this season, replacing David Seymour, and Andrei Ostrikov comes into the second row, replacing Jonathan Mills. Kick off is at 7.45pm.
Sale Sharks: 15. Mike Haley, 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Will Addison, 12. Mark Jennings, 11. Paolo Odogwu, 10. Sam James, 9. Peter Stringer, 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Neil Briggs, 3. Brian Mujati, 4. Bryn Evans, 5. Andrei Ostrikov, 6. Cameron Neild, 7. Magnus Lund, 8. Josh Beaumont (c)
![Kevin Matley [image: Facebook]](https://sale.todaynews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/11/Kevin-Matley-facebook-1600x900-1-900x470.jpg)
![Ashfield Road, Sale [image: Google Maps]](https://sale.todaynews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/10/ashfield-road-sale-900x470.png)
![Walton Park war memorial [image: Katy Ratican]](https://sale.todaynews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/10/war-memorial-1600x900-1-900x470.jpg)
![Sale Waterside [image: Katy Ratican]](https://sale.todaynews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/10/waterside-1600x900-1-900x470.jpg)
