Tom Curry makes his first Sharks start since the Six Nations and there’s also a return for fly-half AJ MacGinty as Alex Sanderson names an exciting line-up to face French giants Racing 92 in the quarter final of the Heineken Champions Cup. (Kick-Off 3pm BST – Live on BT Sport, Channel 4, BBC 5 Live)
Sanderson makes six changes to his starting line-up following victory over Newcastle Falcons with Manu Tuilagi, skipper Jono Ross, Simon Hammersley and World Cup winner Lood de Jager also returning to face the Parisians for a place in the last four of European rugby’s most prestigious competition.
Bevan Rodd, Akker van der Merwe and Nick Schonert make up an unchanged Sharks front row for the clash at the Paris La Défense Arena.
But it’s all change in the second row as Jean-Luc du Preez switches from the number 6 shirt to take his place alongside de Jager, who will be looking to add to his impressive record of three lineout steals and five turnovers so far in this season’s competition.
England’s Six Nations captain Tom Curry returns from a hamstring injury at openside flanker and he’ll pack down alongside Sharks skipper Ross at blindside and Daniel du Preez at number 8.
Faf de Klerk remains at scrum-half and he’ll have the fit-again AJ MacGinty for company at half-back after the USA captain recovered from a knee injury sustained against Gloucester in March. Both MacGinty and Racing 92 fly-half Finn Russell boast 100 per cent records from the kicking tee in this season’s Champions Cup.
England star Tuilagi returns to partner Robert du Preez in the midfield, while the versatile Hammersley is selected to play on the wing.
Looking to add to his record of four tries in four Champions Cup games this season, Tom Roebuck takes his place on the opposite wing, with Luke James keeping his spot at full-back.
Ewan Ashman, Simon McIntyre and Coenie Oosthuizen act as heavyweight front-row replacements against the French side, with Cobus Wiese and Ben Curry providing further cover for the forwards.
Gus Warr, Sam James and Rohan Janse van Rensburg cover the backs.
