Wilkinson starts for Toulon against Racing, Michalak misses out
Lille (France) (AFP) - English talisman Jonny Wilkinson will start at fly-half for Toulon in their Top 14 semi-final against Racing-Metro in Lille on Friday, while Frederic Michalak does not even make the match-day squad.
Michalak was preferred to Francois Trinh-Duc for the three-Test France tour to Australia in June, but has been unable to displace the 34-year-old Toulon captain in Bernard Laporte's team.
A notable returnee to the starting XV, after four months out with a fractured radius, is Springbok enforcer Bakkie Botha, who will pack down in the second row alongside Jocelyn Suta. All Black Ali Williams is among the replacements.
Australian veteran Matt Giteau and Mathieu Bastareaud make up the midfield, with Drew Mitchell and Bryan Habana on the wings, either side of Delon Armitage at full-back.
For Racing-Metro, Maxime Machenaud teams up with Ireland international Jonathan Sexton at half back, with Welsh scrum half Mike Phillips named on the bench.
Antoine Battut captains the Parisian side from blindside flanker.
Teams (15-1)
Toulon
Delon Armitage; Drew Mitchell, Mathieu Bastareaud, Matt Giteau, Bryan Habana; Jonny Wilkinson (capt), Sebastien Tillous-Borde; Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Steffon Armitage, Juan Smith; Jocelyn Suta, Bakkies Botha; Carl Hayman, Craig Burden, Xavier Chiocci
Replacements: Jean-Charles Orioli, Alexandre Menini, Ali Williams, Virgile Bruni, David Smith, Maxime Mermoz, Michael Claassens, Martin Castrogiovanni
Racing-Metro
Juan Martin Hernandez; Adrien Plante, Henry Chavancy, Jamie Roberts, Juan Imhoff; Jonathan Sexton, Maxime Machenaud; Bernard Le Roux, Jacques Cronje, Antoine Battut (capt); Francois van der Merwe, Juandre Kruger; Luc Ducalcon, Virgile Lacombe, Julien Brugnaut
Replacements: Jeremie Maurouard, Eddy Ben Arous, Fabrice Metz, Wenceslas Lauret, Mike Phillips, Fabrice Estebanez, Benjamin Fall, Brian Mujati
