And the London Irish team to face Sale?

This just in from Dave Swanton:


Bob Casey returns to lead London Irish in its Guinness Premiership match with Sale Sharks at Madejski Stadium on Sunday. The match kicks-off at 3.00pm.

The return of the experienced club captain, who missed last week’s game through illness, provides a major boost for the team as it prepares to face an in-form Sharks XV. Casey is one of four changes to the Exiles’ team that started against Leicester last weekend. The others see Eoghan Hickey taking over at fly half as Shane Geraghty moves to inside centre; Tonga Lea’aetoa comes in at tight head prop for the injured Richard Skuse and Richard Thorpe starts at No 8.

Geraghty takes over at inside centre from Seilala Mapusua who broke his right hand in last Saturday’s game at Welford Road. The Samoan international had an operation on New Year’s Eve and will be out of action for six to eight weeks.

“Sale are a ‘top four’ team with a large number of world class players in their squad,” said Brian Smith, London Irish Director of Rugby. “With the likes of Sebastien Chabal, Mark Cueto, Sebastien Bruno, Luke McAlister and Andrew Sheridan fit and ready for action it is no surprise that Philippe Saint Andre’s team has its eyes on the Premiership title.

“Sunday’s game is our first home fixture of the New Year and we’re looking to give our supporters a big performance. Our team has prepared well this week and knows that on our day we can beat anyone in the competition.

“Our boys worked their socks off against Leicester last weekend and we were unlucky to come away without any points. We’re confident we can do better on Sunday,” Smith concluded.
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Team: 15. Delon Armitage; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13. Gonzalo Tiesi*; 12. Shane Geraghty*; 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 10. Eoghan Hickey; 9. Paul Hodgson; 1. Clarke Dermody*; 2. David Paice, 3. Tongo Lea’aetoa*; 4. Nick Kennedy; 5. Bob Casey* (captain); 6. Declan Danaher; 7. Steffon Armitage; 8. Richard Thorpe.

Replacements:
16. Dan Murphy; 17. Danie Coetzee*; 18. James Hudson; 19. Phil Murphy*; 20. Juan Leguizamon*; 21. Peter Richards*; 22. Jeremy Staunton*.

* Denotes international