London Wasps v Sale - Aviva Premiership match preview
London Wasps have made six changes to their starting XV for Sunday's fixture against Sale.
Last Updated: 21/12/12 3:25pm
Wasps boss Dai Young named his side which includes Hugo Southwell who returns to captain the side from full-back in place of Elliot Daly, who moves to the wing.
Tom Varndell, the league's top try-scorer, misses out due to a minor foot injury.
T Rhys Thomas gets the nod at hooker with Zak Taulafo moving across to loose-head with Phil Swainston returning on the other side of the scrum.
Joe Launchbury, the newly capped England international, returns to partner Marco Wentzel in the second-row. Ashley Johnson also returns packing down in the number six shirt in a strong looking back-row alongside Billy Vunipola and James Haskell.
Meanwhile, after being out injured since the first game of the season away at Exeter, Sale hooker Marc Jones will make his first start of the season.
Jonny Leota and Sammy Tuitupou and are reunited in the midfield for the first time since the win over London Irish on 2 November and Nick Macleod is back from injury at fly-half.
Wasps: 15 Hugo Southwell (c), 14 Elliot Daly, 13 Andrea Masi, 12 Chris Bell, 11 Christian Wade, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 James Haskell, 6 Ashley Johnson, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Phil Swainston, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Zak Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Tim Payne, 18 Will Taylor, 19 James Cannon, 20 Jonathan Poff, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Nick Robinson, 23 Chris Mayor.
Sale: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Mark Jennings, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Nick Macleod, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Richie Vernon, 7 David Seymour (capt), 6 James Gaskell, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 2 Marc Jones, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Aston Croall, 17 Vadim Cobilas, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Andy Powell, 21 Cillian Willis, 22 Corne Uys, 23 Tom Brady.
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