Top 14
Wilkinson set for season bow
Scrum.com
August 19, 2010
Toulon's Jonny Wilkinson lines up a kick, Toulon v Cardiff Blues, European Challenge Cup Final, Stade Velodrome, Marseille, France, May 23, 2010
Wilkinson missed Toulon's opening loss to Bayonne last weekend © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: James Haskell | Jonny Wilkinson
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England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will make his season bow in Toulon's Top 14 clash with Biarritz on Friday night.

Wilkinson sat out Toulon's shock opening defeat at the hands of Bayonne last week that brought an end to their unbeaten run at the Stade Mayol dating back to March last year. His absence, due to a shoulder knock and an agreement to limit early season action for those players involved in international matches in the summer, proved costly with the star-studded hosts crashing to a 26-22 loss.

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has included Wilkinson in his 23-man squad for the game at Parc des Sports Aguilera in the place of Argentinean Felipe Contepomi who picked a knock in the loss to Bayonne and will be rested. Wilkinson will form part of a new-look half-back pairing with Fabien Cibray preferred at scrum-half while flanker Joe El Abd will skipper the side.

Another Top 14-based England star, James Haskell, will also make his first start of the season for Stade Francais as they look to follow up their opening bonus-point win over Bourgoin with another against La Rochelle at the Stade Charlety. Haskell comes in for Antoine Rabadan while Brian Liebenberg will continue his comeback from injury off the bench.

Toulouse, who also bagged a bonus point win against Agen last time out, tackle Castres at the Stade Pierre-Antoine on Saturday night while defending champions Clermont Auvergne travel to Stade Pierre Rajon to take on Bourgoin in the hope they can bounce back from defeat to Perpignan.

The Catalans face Brive at the Stade Amedee-Domenech on Friday night with Bayonne's match with Agen at the Stade Jean Dauger and Montpellier's meeting with Racing Metro at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir completing the round two schedule.

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