Challenge Cup, Round One - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: The Lions and the Cheetahs will fly the South African flag in the EPCR Challenge Cup once again.
On Saturday, the Lions will welcome a well-known opponent to Ellis Park when they open their account against Italian club, Benetton.
Two months ago, Benetton beat the Lions in Italy in the URC, while the Italians also won the corresponding fixture in Johannesburg last year, but this time around, the hosts will go into the clash on the back of three straight wins since they were downed in Treviso, two of them at home at Ellis Park.
Returning from international duty, and speaking to the media earlier this week, Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye is eager to transfer the knowledge gained from his time with four-time world champions in recent weeks.
“Every time I come back from the Boks, I learn things I can bring here,” he said.
“We have to maintain that standard heading into this weekend.
Reflecting on his side’s 43-33 win over the Bulls in the URC last week, the Bok prop lauded his teammates on their preparations during the international break and stressed the importance of a repeat effort.
“It was good to see the hard work pay off,” he added.
“To win at Loftus for the first time since 2023 was massive.
“But we can’t be a one-performance team. We have to prove we can go back-to-back.”
Sunday’s clash against the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park will be the Cheetahs’ first against an English club in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
After reaching the play-offs in the first two seasons, the Free Staters missed out last year and will be keen to turn that around in the coming months.
“To be realistic, we are in a tough pool and will face strong opponents,” said Cheetahs head coach Frans Steyn.
“We are confident. We have a good plan. The players are healthy, and we’ve got a good squad.
“This is an opportunity to show the quality of our players.
“A rugby ball can bounce to any side, and hopefully it will bounce our way this season.”
Captain Chucky van der Westhuizen is excited to face a former Cheetah player in the form of Joseph Dweba.
“He is a quality player and Springbok, and for me it is always nice to measure yourself against some of the best players in the world,” said Van der Westhuizen.
“It is exciting for the boys to play in the EPCR Challenge Cup, to be on tour, and to play against a quality side that is second in the Premiership at the moment.”
Round One’s action will kick off on Friday night with Ulster hosting Racing 92.
See below for Round One’s teams and predictions!
Friday, December 5:
Ulster v Racing 92
(Affidea Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 20.00; 21.00 CET; 20.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Ulster by four points.
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney (captain), 6 Dave McCann, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Sam Crean.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Joe Hopes, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Stewart Moore.
Racing 92: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Nolann Donguy, 13 Sam James, 12 Vladi Ashvetia, 11 Wilfried Hulleu, 10 Antoine Gibert, 9 Kleo Labarbe, 8 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 7 Noa Zinzen, 6 Fabien Sanconnie, 5 Will Rowlands (captain), 4 Junior Kpoku, 3 Gia Kharaishvili, 2 Yanis Basse, 1 Edouard Jabea Njocke.
Replacements: 16 Diego Escobar, 17 Herman Coetzee, 18 Lehopoame Leota, 19 Maxime Baudonne, 20 Jonny Hill, 21 Auguste Albuisson, 22 Leo Carbonneau, 23 Arthur Espeut.
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Carwyn Sion (Wales)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
Saturday, December 6:
Lions v Benetton
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 CET; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Lions by 11 points.
Teams:
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Franco Marais, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Edward Davids, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Richard Kriel, 23 Gianni Lombard.
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Alessandro Izekor, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Manuel Zuliani, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 21 Riccardo Favretto, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Tomas Albornoz.
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos (France), Flavien Hourquet (France)
TMO: Julien Castaignede (France)
Stade Francais Paris v Cardiff
(Stade Jean Bouin, Paris – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Stade Francais Paris by 14 points.
Teams:
Stade Français Paris: 15 Mathis Ibo, 14 Charles Laloi, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Julien Delbouis, 11 Lester Etien, 10 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 9 Paul Abadie, 8 Yoan Tanga, 7 Ryan Chapuis, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 5 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 4 Paul Gabrillagues (captain), 3 Braxton Asi, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Sergo Abramishvili.
Replacements: 16 Alvaro Garcia Albo, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Moses Alo-Emile, 19 Juan-Martin Scelzo, 20 Thibaut Motassi, 21 Noah Nene, 22 Joe Jonas, 23 Setareki Turagacoke.
Cardiff: 15 Matty Young, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Steff Emanuel, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Alun Lawrence (captain), 7 Taine Basham, 6 James Botham, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Rhys Barratt.
Replacements: 16 Dafydd Hughes, 17 Ioan Emanuel, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 George Nott, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Harri Wilde, 23 Elijah Evans
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Keane Davison (Ireland), Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)
Black Lion v Montpellier
(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 19.15; 16.15 CET; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Montpellier by nine points.
Teams:
Black Lion: 15 Luka Takaishvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demi Tapladze, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Shalva Aptsiauri, 10 Luka Tsirekidze, 9 Tengiz Peranidze, 8 Giorgi Sinauridze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 5 Demuri Epremidze, 4 Mikheil Babunashvili (captain), 3 Kakhaber Darbaidze, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 1 Nika Khatiashvili.
Replacements: 16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Giorgi Chkhartishvili, 19 Giorgi Nikoladze, 20 Giorgi Kervalishvili, 21 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 22 Giorgi Spenderashvili, 23 Sandro Todua.
Montpellier: 15 Thomas Darmon, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Auguste Cadot, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Donovan Taofifenua, 10 Stuart Hogg, 9 Tom Baraer, 8 Alex Masibaka, 7 Marco Tauleigne, 6 Matthieu Uhila, 5 Nils Punti, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3. Mohamed Haouas, 2 Jordan Uelese (captain), 1 Valentin Welsch.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17Nika Abuladze, 18 Christopher Tolofua, 19 Bastien Chalureau, 20 Djibril Sissako, 21 Alexis Bernadet, 22 Thomas Vincent, 23 Lennox Anyanwu.
Referee: Adam Leal (England)
Assistant referees: Harry Walbaum (England), Calum Howard (England)
TMO: Dean Richards (Eng)
Lyon Olympique Universitaire V Newcastle Red Bulls
(Matmut Stadium de Gerland; Lyon – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Lyon by 20 points.
Teams:
Lyon Olympique Universitaire: 15 Martin Meliande, 14 Arthur Mathiron, 13 Thibaut Regard, 12 Josiah Maraku, 11 Ethan Dumortier, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Baptiste Couilloud (captain), 8 Lilian Baret, 7 Beka Shvangiradze, 6 Marvin Okuya, 5 Janse Roux, 4 Killian Geraci, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 2 Mathis Sarragallet, 1 Thomas Moukoro.
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Marchand, 17 Jérôme Rey, 18 Ave Maalo, 19 Bartholome Sanson, 20 Maxime Gouzou, 21 Charlie Cassang, 22 Iosefo Balewairiki, 23 Alfred Parisien.
Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Oll Spencer, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Ethan Grayson, 11 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Tom Gordon, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 4 Oscar Usher, 3 Murray McCallum, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 1 Adam Brocklebank.
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Connor Hancock, 18 Micky Rewcastle, 19 Finn Baker, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Cammy Hutchison, 23 Stefan Coetzee.
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Christopher Allison (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Zebre Parma v US Montauban
(Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 21.00; 20.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Zebre by three points.
Teams:
Zebre Parma: 15 Giacomo da Re, 14 Malik Faissal, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Martin Roger Farias, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Davide Odiase, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Leonardo Krumov (captain), 4 Franco Carrera, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 1 Paolo Buonfiglio.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 17 Luca Franceschetto, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Guido Volpi, 20 Jacopo Bianchi, 21 Migael Prinsloo, 22 Giulio Bertaccini, 23 Marco Zanon.
US Montauban: 15 Thomas Larregain, 14 Stephane Ahmed, 13 Romain Fonnicola, 12 Gibson Popoali’i, 11 Segundo Tuculet, 10 Jerome Bosviel, 9 Mael Castel, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Kyllian Ringuet, 6 Corentin Coularis, 5 Noa Kanika, 4 Karl Wilkins (captain), 3 Facundo Pomponio, 2 Kevin Firmin, 1 Nugzar Somkhishvili.
Replacements: 16 Jeremie Maurouard, 17 Lucas Seyrolle, 18 Vaea Fifita, 19 Tyrone Viiga, 20 Merlin Leflamand, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Gade Asaeli, 23 Valentin Simutoga.
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
Assistant referees: Gareth Newman (Wales), Aaron Parry (Wales)
TMO: Neil Hennessy (Wales)
Sunday, December 7:
USAP v Dragons
(Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: USAP by 16 points.
Teams:
USAP: 15 Jordan Petaia, 14 Tavite Veredamu, 13 Freddy Duguivalu, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Jefferson Joseph, 10 Gabin Kretchmann, 9 James Hall, 8 Andro Dvali, 7 Jamie Ritchie (captain), 6 Mahamadou Diaby, 5 Bastien Chinarro, 4 Matteo le Corvec, 3 Nemo Roelofse, 2 Sama Malolo, 1 Giorgi Tetrashvili.
Replacements: 16 Victor Montgaillard, 17 Bruce Devaux, 18 Akato Fakatika, 19 Davit Lagvilava, 20 Jaco van Tonder, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Job Poulet, 23 Mayron Fahy.
Dragons: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Fine Inisi, 13 Dai Richards, 12 Joe Westwood, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Angus O’Brien (captain), 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Mackenzie Martin, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Ben Carter (captain), 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Luke Yendle, 2 Sam Scarfe, 1 Rodrigo Martinez.
Replacements: 16 Will Austin, 17 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 18 Rob Hunt, 19 Barny Langton-Cryer, 20 Harrison Keddie, 21 Che Hope, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Ewan Rosser.
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Riccardo Angelucci (Italy), Luca Bisetto (Italy)
TMO: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy)
Ospreys v Connacht
(Dunraven Brewery Field, Bridgend – Kick-off: 17.15 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Connacht by two points.
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Evradi Boshoff, 12 Phil Cokanasiga, 11 Iestyn Hopkins, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 James Ratti, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry (captain), 1 Garyn Phillips.
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Huw Sutton, 20 Gwilym Evans, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Max Nagy, 23 Keelan Giles.
Connacht: 15 Sean Naughton, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Sam Gilbert, 12 Bundee Aki (captain), 11 Finn Treacy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 David O’Connor, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitlear, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Sean Walsh, 23 Harry West.
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy (France), Cyrille Boulay (France)
TMO: Patrick Dellac (France)
Exeter Chiefs v Cheetahs
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 17.30; 19.30 SAST; 17.30)
Prediction
Rugby365: Exeter by 18 points.
Teams:
Exeter: 15 Ben Hammersley, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Charlie Chapman, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Ethan Roots, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 2 Jack Yeandle, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Lewis Pearson, 20 Kane James, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Dan John.
Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 De-an Ackermann, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Juan Venter, 6 Pierre Uys, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (captain), 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Tielman Nieuwoudt, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Neels Volschenk, 21 Daniel Maarten, 22 Jandré Nel, 23 Cohen Jasper.
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Bru (France), Thomas Chereque (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (France)
