Sharks warned not to bask in glory as champions come calling

Published on 18/10/2008 20:15

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 today (Edgeley Park, 1pm).

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.

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 on Sunday.

"Munster are the holders – they are the team we all aspire to beat."

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 No.8 into the second row.

Elsewhere, fly-half Charlie Hodgson will again be starting on the bench as Richard Wigglesworth retains the No.10 shirt. Mathew Tait will also be among the replacements, back in the squad after recovering from hamstring trouble.

Cardiff Blues and Gloucester meet under a closed Millennium Stadium roof – with the Pool Six rivals both unchanged following respective opening weekend wins against Calvisano and Biarritz.

Bath, meanwhile, should have too much pace and power for Pool Five opponents Newport Gwent Dragons as they target an immediate response from an agonising injury-time loss against Toulouse last Sunday.