Champions Cup: Manu Tuilagi starts as Sale search for victory against Racing 92 in Paris

Sale Sharks have named their team for their Champions Cup quarter-final clash against French side Racing 92 in Paris this weekend.

Manu Tuilagi returns to the starting lineup and will pair up with Robert du Preez, who makes a move from fly-half to accommodate AJ MacGinty as the playmaker with Faf de Klerk starting at scrum-half.

Full-back Luke James combines with wings Tom Roebuck and Simon Hammersley in the back three.

Dan du Preez, Tom Curry and captain Jono Ross make up a powerful loose trio with Lood de Jager and Jean-Luc du Preez starting as an all-South African second-row pairing. The tight five is completed by front row Bevan Rod, Akker van der Merwe and Nick Schonert.

Sale have robust options on the bench with experienced prop Coenie Oosthuizen, loose forward Ben Curry, and centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg available to impact the game later on.

Teddy Thomas starts in dangerous back three

Racing 92 wing Teddy Thomas will look to continue his try-scoring form as he starts in a back three with Max Spring, who comes in for Louis Dupichot, and Argentine Juan Imhoff, while Gael Gickou and captain Henry Chavancy continue their centre partnership.

Scotland’s Finn Russell will be pulling the strings at fly-half with Nolann Le Garrec his half-back partner.

Flank Ibrahim Diallo gets a start in a balanced loose trio with Yoan Tanga and Wenceslas Lauret.

Meanwhile, Anton Bressler starts with Baptiste Chouzenoux pairing up in the second-row while Cedate Gomes Sa, Camille Chat and Hassane Kolinga make up the front-row.

World Cup winner Trevor Nyakane starts on the bench alongside Eddy Ben Arous and the potent Virimi Vakatawa.

Prediction: Racing by 15

The teams:

Racing 92: 15 Max Spring, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Yoan Tanga, 7 Ibrahim Diallo, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Hassane Kolinga
Replacements: 16 Teddy Baubigny, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Bernard Le Roux, 20 Baptiste Pesenti, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Antoine Gibert, 23 Virimi Vakatawa

Sale: 15 Luke James, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Robert du Preez, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Simon Hammersley, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jono Ross (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jean-Luc du Preez, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Bevan Rod
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Gus Warr, 22 Sam James, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Date: Sunday, May 8
Venue: Paris La Defense Arena
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 BST, 14:00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Chris Busby (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)

READ MORE: Sale Sharks to rely on character for tough Racing 92 clash

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