Challenge Cup - Round 2
Action from across Europe
Worcester Warriors know what it takes to win on French soil – they beat Montpellier in last season’s European Challenge Cup – but coach Anthony Eddy accepts that high-flying ASM Clermont Auvergne will be an even tougher challenge.
The Warriors are top of Pool 5 by virtue of their five-try win over Viadana at Sixways with their French opponents kicking-off with a victory in their strictly French affair with Albi.
"Clermont will provide us with a totally different challenge – it is going to be a lot more confrontational and physical over there on Saturday," said Eddy.
But Clermont coach Vern Cotter says his side is looking to strike a blow against the English club.
“We will be looking to make a big impact in the home leg against Worcester next weekend – our guys like playing at home and we want to make the most of any psychological advantage from getting a result now which we could benefit from in January,” said the New Zealand-born coach.
The Dragons travel to Guinness Premiership leaders, Bristol, on Friday night with the mind games between the coaches off the field sure to be as keen as the contest on The Memorial Stadium.
Dragons coach Paul Turner and opposite number Richard Hill know each other better than most both as opposing players and coaches.
"Hilly was a long time at Gloucester before he went to Ebbw Vale, I know him well having played against him and I have got to know him very well over the years," said Turner.
"He is very intense and does his homework. He will know us inside out, just like we will for his team."
Newcastle Falcons captain Matthew Burke returns at fullback for the clash with Brive, with Joe Shaw pushing up to inside-centre for the rested Jamie Noon.
A minor quadricep tear rules out centre Mathew Tait with the Falcons not risking the England man ahead of next weekend’s international action, for which – says the club – he will be fit.
England U19 scrum-half and Former Leeds Tykes player Danny Care will get a full run-out for Harlequins in their match against Montpellier on Saturday.
In Bayonne, Bucuresti come calling. Bayonne are struggling in the Top 14, but have nevertheless fielded a strong team including former Stormers lock Rob Linde and former Agen scrum-half Julien Tilloles, who links up with Bayonne's fourth fly-half of the season, Henri-Pierre Vermis.
More to follow…
Fixtures – Round 2:
Friday, October 27
Glasgow Warriors v Parma, Hughenden – 19:30 (18:30 GMT)
Bristol v Dragons, Memorial Ground – 19:45 (18:45 GMT)
Viadana v Albi, Stadio Luigi Zaffanella – 20:00 (18:00 GMT)
Saturday, October 28
Bucuresti v Bayonne, Steaua Stadium – 14:00 (12:00 GMT)
Bath v Connacht, The Rec – 14:15 (13:15 GMT)
Clermont Auvergne v Worcester, Stade Marcel Michelin – 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Brive v Newcastle Falcons, Parc Municipal des Sports – 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
NEC Harlequins v Montpellier, The Stoop – 15:00 (14:00 GMT)
Petrarca Padova v Montauban, Stadio Plebiscito – 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Narbonne v Saracens, Parc des Sports et de l'Amitie – 19:30 (17:30 GMT)
