Faf de Klerk returns to Sale XV for La Rochelle clash

David Skippers
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Sale Shark's Faf de Klerk

Two matches are on the Champions Cup schedule on Sunday with Sale Sharks and Montpellier hosting La Rochelle and Gloucester respectively.

Sale Sharks v La Rochelle

Four internationals return to the Sale Sharks squad and complete a start-studded line-up as director of rugby Steve Diamond names his side to face La Rochelle in Round Two of the Champions Cup.

World Cup winner Faf de Klerk returns to the starting XV and is set to make his first appearance for Sale since lifting the Webb Ellis trophy just 20 days ago. The influential Springbok scrum half stars alongside Chris Ashton, Denny Solomona and World Cup finalist Tom Curry this weekend.

Diamond makes nine changes in total to the squad that travelled to Glasgow Warriors in Round One, with Akker van der Merwe and Coenie Oosthuizen returning to start in the front-row after impressing during the Sharks’ valiant second half efforts at Scotstoun last weekend.

Jean-Luc du Preez and Bryn Evans make up the second-row in the absence of Josh Beaumont, after the experienced lock suffered a serious knee injury during the Sharks’ last Premiership match. Beaumont has already undergone successful surgery this week and has an estimated rehabilitation timescale of four to five months.

Jono Ross makes his first appearance at number eight after appearing off the bench during Sale’s 13-7 defeat to Glasgow last weekend. The club captain is flanked by Ben and Tom Curry in the twins’ first appearance together in a starting line-up since the penultimate round of the 2018/19 Premiership.

For La Rochelle, after being stung by their defeat to Exeter Chiefs last weekend, they have brought in Kini Murimurivalu and Brock James to bolster the backline.

In the pack, Wiaan Liebenberg is dropped, with Kevin Gourdon coming into the XV, while Rémi Leroux and Argentina international Ramiro Herrera also start.

The teams:

Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Robert du Preez, 11 Chris Ashton, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Faf De Klerk, 8 Jono Ross (c), 7 Tom Curry, 6 Ben Curry, 5 Jean-Luc du Preez, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Valery Morozov, 18 WillGriff John, 19 James Phillips, 20 Matthew Postlewhaite, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Luke James, 23 Marland Yarde

La Rochelle: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Jérémy Sinzelle, 11 Arthur Retiere, 10 Brock James, 9 Alexi Bales, 8 Victor Vito (c), 7 Grégory Alldritt, 6 Kevin Gourdon, 5 Rémi Leroux, 4 Romain Sazy, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Arthur Joly, 19 Zeno Kieft, 20 Wiaan Liebenberg, 21 Tawera Kerr Barlow, 22 Levani Botia, 23 Brieuc Plessis-Couillaud

Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Stuart Gaffkin (Ireland), Paul Hancock (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Montpellier v Gloucester

Montpellier director of rugby Vern Cotter has made several alterations to his side following their shock defeat to Connacht last weekend.

Following the departure of Aaron Cruden, who has signed a deal with the Chiefs for the 2020 Super Rugby season, Anthony Bouthier starts at fly-half against Gloucester with Henry Immelman at full-back. He is joined by Yvan Reilhac and the returning Nemani Nadolo in the back three.

Up front, there are mass changes with back-rowers Yacouba Camara and Caleb Timu the only players to retain their places in the forward eight.

Meanwhile, Jaco Kriel will skipper Gloucester in Champions Cup action in Montpellier on Sunday, leading a side that will see 18-year-old winger Louis Rees-Zammit make his full European debut for the club.

Only four players retain their places in the starting line-up from last weekend’s European opener against Toulouse: Jason Woodward, Chris Harris, Freddie Clarke and Gerbrandt Grobler.

Rees-Zammit’s selection on the wing will see him become the club’s youngest ever starter in a European fixture. He will be 18 years and 295 days old on Sunday, beating the previous mark of 18 years and 326 days set by James Simpson-Daniel in the semi-final against Leicester in 2001.

Also in the backline, Billy Twelvetrees returns, while Ollie Thorley is back having been a late withdrawal last weekend and there is a new look half-back pairing in Callum Braley and Lloyd Evans.

Up front, Corné Fourie will make his first start for the club at hooker, joined in the front-row by the experienced pairing of Fraser Balmain and Josh Hohneck.

Alex Craig will make his first European start in the second-row alongside Gerbrandt Grobler, with Freddie Clarke moving to number eight. Jake Polledri and Jaco Kriel occupy the blindside and openside berths.

The teams:

Montpellier: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Yvan Reilhac, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Anthony Bouthier, 9 Benoit Paillaugue (c), 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Yacouba Camara, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Levan Chilachava, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Grégory Fichten
Replacements: 16 Youri Delhommel, 17 Mikheil Nariashvili, 18 Mohamed Haouas, 19 Martin Devergie, 20 Enzo Sanga, 21 Vincent Martin, 22 Thomas Darmon, 23 Paul Willemse

Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Lloyd Evans, 9 Callum Braley, 8 Freddie Clarke, 7 Jaco Kriel (c), 6 Jake Polledri, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Corné Fourie, 1 Josh Hohneck
Replacements: 16 Todd Gleave, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin , 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Lewis Ludlow, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Mark Atkinson, 23 Matt Banahan

Venue: GGL Stadium
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Kieran Barry (Ireland), Mark Patton (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

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Gloucester