Sharks must master Munster after French upset, says Andre

PHILIPPE Saint Andre has urged Sale Sharks not to undermine the “massive achievement” of beating French giants Clermont Auvergne, by losing their Heineken Cup showdown against holders Munster.

Saint Andre rated last weekend’s 32-15 victory in France as Sale’s finest performance since they defeated Leicester to be crowned 2006 Premiership champions.

But the Sharks boss knows it is vital his players back up that display by toppling Munster at a sold-out Edgeley Park tomorrow. Saint Andre said: “The win against Clermont was a massive achievement, but it is now consigned to the record books.

“If we were to lose this weekend we would undo all the good work of last week. Munster may only just have won last week (against Montauban). But they are a great side, and we expect a big performance from them.”

Saint Andre is once more without the services of England prop Andrew Sheridan, who has not recovered from a shoulder injury sustained on Premiership duty almost three weeks ago. Lock Kristian Ormsby’s one-match ban imposed by tournament disciplinary chiefs yesterday means Sebastien Chabal moves from number eight into the second row.

Elsewhere, fly-half Charlie Hodgson is again on the bench — Richard Wigglesworth retains the number 10 shirt — with Mathew Tait also among the replacements, after recovering from hamstring trouble.

Wasps are unchanged for this afternoon’s Dublin summit with Leinster — having launched their Pool Two campaign in solid fashion against Castres last Sunday.

Rugby director Ian McGeechan acknowledged: “Leinster are playing very well. They have a very strong side with some outstanding players, and we know this will be our toughest challenge of the season so far.”

Meanwhile, Montauban have made a host of changes for the home derby match with Clermont tomorrow.

Try-scoring wing Sylvain Jonnet drops out of the squad altogether, and is replaced by Yoan Audrin, while Vilimoni Delasau returns on the other wing to face his former club at the expense of Jean-Emmanuel Cassin. Julien Laharrague’s placement at full-back completes an all-new back three.

There’s no change in the centres, half-backs, or back row, but Karim Ghezal takes Scott Murray’s place in the second row, and Georgian monster Goderzi Shvelidze replaces Bogdan Balan at loosehead.

Meanwhile, Italy international centre Gonzalo Canale returns to the centre for Clermont, bumping Benoît Baby back to full-back and Anthony Floch down to the bench. Kiwi Simms Davison is in at loosehead, and Jacobus Roux replaces Davit Zirakashvili at tighthead, with Christophe Samson in for Thibault Privat in the second row.

MONTAUBAN: J Laharrague, Y Audrin, J Viard, R Jahouer, V Delasau, R Lespinas, P Mitu, G Shvelidze, B Mach, N Adams, K Ghezal, R Frost, Y Caballero, M Raynaud (C), M Clarkin

Replacements: G Parriel, L DelBoulbes, B Sa, S Murray, A Boutaty, F Fortassin, J Audy

ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE: B Baby, N Vonowale Nalaga, G Canale, S Bai, J Malzieu, B James, P Mignoni, S Davison, B Cabello, J Roux, J Pierre, C Samson, J Bonnaire, A Audebert, E Vermeulen (C)

Replacements: M Lozupone, T Domingo, L Jacquet, E Etien, J Senio, A Mignardi, A Floch

Referee: Chris White (England)