Challenge Cup, Round Three - Teams and Predictions
SATURDAY PREVIEW: Qualification beckons as the pool stages enter the final straight in the Challenge Cup this weekend.
In Pool Two, the Lions and Lyon Olympique Universitaire are both chasing their first wins, while leaders Benetton look to maintain their perfect start when they take on a Dragons side riding high after their Round Two victory over Lyon and two more domestic wins before the New Year.
The Lions’ forwards coach, Julian Redelinghuys, said the victory over the Sharks last weekend was a huge talking point this week.
“We want a follow-up performance; that’s been the big focus this week. And then we want another big performance [against Perpignan] and another when we’re back in the URC.
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“We want to take this competition seriously … and we’re still chasing the playoffs. We know what needs to be done, and there’s a massive focus on that. We want to keep the momentum going, but at the same time manage our squad and build depth to be competitive in all competitions,” Redelinghuys commented.
The Lions will be without Springbok flanker Ruan Venter for their next four matches after the No.7 was handed a lengthy ban following a dangerous tackle on Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi last weekend.
The Cheetahs are still looking for a win in the competition, losing to both the Exeter Chiefs and Stade Français in Rounds One and Two of the competition, while Ulster thumped Racing 92 by 61-7 in their first round, but suffered a narrow 26-29 defeat against Cardiff in Round Two.
Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn said his team is definitely at a disadvantage, having not played in a competition since the beginning of December, but he is not going to use it as an excuse.
“We’ve got an opportunity, a massive opportunity to show what we can do. And we need to be better than the previous two matches. I mean, all the teams we’re playing in this pool, I mean, Exeter is third in the UK, in the Premier League.
“Stade Français is third in the Top 14. And then this weekend, Ulster is third in the URC. With the previous two games, I felt we got ourselves into trouble with our own mistakes.”
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Turnover. Transition. Try. 💥
Werner Kok feeds Jake Flannery, who dives over for @UlsterRugby
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Saturday kicks off with a mouth-watering Pool Three showdown as table-toppers Stade Français Paris host second-placed Exeter Chiefs at Stade Jean Bouin, a clash that could prove decisive in the race for top spot.
Unbeaten at home since last April, the Parisians have enjoyed a flawless start to their Challenge Cup campaign, with both sides also sitting third in their respective domestic leagues.
In Pool One, newcomers US Montauban face invitees Black Lion in a do-or-die encounter, with both teams still searching for their first points of the competition.
Pool Two sees Newcastle Red Bulls aiming to extend their perfect start when they welcome USAP. The hosts sit second with two wins from two, but the visitors arrive buoyed by a statement TOP14 victory over six-time Champions Cup winners Toulouse.
Benetton, leaders of Pool 4, will look to keep their 100% record intact against a Dragons side brimming with confidence after a Round 2 win over Lyon and back-to-back domestic victories before the New Year.
At Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff host French giants Racing 92 in a crucial clash with knockout implications.
Sunday’s action features Pool One leaders Montpellier Hérault, who boast a maximum of 10 points, hosting Connacht. The Irish province will be keen to notch a second successive win to ease the pressure ahead of a pivotal final pool round.
The weekend concludes with Ospreys chasing a third straight victory as they travel to Zebre Parma.
Stade Français Paris v Exeter Chiefs
(Venue: Stade Jean Bouin, Paris – Kick-off: 14.00 CET; 13.00 UK & IRE; 15.00 SAST)
Prediction:
@Rugby365: Stade Francais by seven points
Teams
Stade Francais: 15 Joe Jonas, 14 Charles Laloi, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Tani Vili, 11 Lester Etien, 10 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 9 Thibaut Motassi, 8 Iakopo Mapu, 7 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 6 Juan-Martin Scelzo, 5 Setareki Turagacoke, 4 Paul Gabrillagues (captain), 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Jack IscaroReplacements: 16 Alvaro Garcia Albo, 17 Moses Alo-Emile, 18 Giorgi Melikidze, 19 Baptiste Pesenti, 20 Romain Briatte, 21 Julien Delbouis, 22 Paul Abadie, 23 Leo Barre
Exeter: 15 Olly Woodburn, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Charlie Chapman, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Ethan Roots, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Rus Tuima, 20 Lewis Pearson, 21 Kane James, 22 Tom Cairns, 23 Ben Coen
Referee: Craig Evans (Wal)
Assistant referees: Carwyn Sion (Wal) & Gareth Newman (Wal)
TMO: Keith David (Wal)
US Montauban v Black Lion
(Venue: Stade Sapiac, Montauban – Kick-off: 14.00 CET; 13.00 UK & IRE; 15.00 SAST)
Prediction:
@Rugby365: Montauban by 10 points
Teams
US Montauban: 15 Segundo Tuculet, 14 Stephane Ahmed, 13 Romain Fonnicola, 12 Gibson Popoali’i, 11 Yvan Reilhac, 10 Jerome Bosviel, 9 Mael Castel, 8 Tyrone Viiga (captain), 7 Vaea Fifita, 6 Jules Bousquet, 5 Lewis Bean, 4 Clement Bitz, 3 Valentin Simutoga, 2 Kevin Firmin, 1 Nugzar Somkhishvili
Replacements: 16 Maixent da Costa, 17 Lucas Seyrolle, 18 Victor Moreaux, 19 Karl Wilkins, 20 Merlin Leflamand, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Simon Renda, 23 Sione Mafileo
Black Lion: 15 Luka Takaishvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demi Tapladze, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Luka Tsirekidze, 9 Tengiz Peranidze, 8 Giorgi Sinauridze, 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 6 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 5 Demuri Epremidze, 4 Mikheil Babunashvili (captain), 3 Giorgi Chkhartishvili, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 1 Vasil Kakovin
Replacements: 16 Tamaz Tchamiashvili, 17 Giga Kobakhidze, 18 Kakhaber Darbaidze, 19 Guram Ganiashvili, 20 Giorgi Kervalishvili, 21 Giorgi Spenderashvili, 22 Zaur Lutidze, 23 Shalva Aptsiauri
Referee: Filippo Russo (Ita)
Assistant referees: Riccardo Bonatto (Ita) & Gabriel Chirnoaga (Ita)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Ita)
Newcastle Falcons v USAP
(Kingston Park, Newcastle – Kick-off: 15.00 UK & IRE; 16.00 CET; 17.00 SAST)
Prediction:
@Rugby365: Newcastle by 10 points
Teams
Newcastle: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Sammy Arnold, 11 Oll Spencer, 10 Ethan Grayson, 9 Simon Benitez Cruz, 8 Tom Gordon, 7 Tom Christie, 6 Oscar Usher, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 4 Tim Cardall, 3 Richard Palframan, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 1 Murray McCallum
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Finn Baker, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 James Elliott, 22 Cammy Hutchison, 23 Nathan Greenwood
USAP: 15 Lucas Dubois, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Job Poulet, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Maxim Granell, 10 Hugo Reus, 9 Tom Ecochard, 8 Lucas Velarte (captain), 7 Mahamadou Diaby, 6 Bastien Chinarro, 5 Adrien Warion, 4 Peceli Yato, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Victor Montgaillard, 1 Bruce Devaux
Replacements: 16 Mathys Lotrian, 17 Lorencio Boyer-Gallardo, 18 Nemo Roelofse, 19 Posolo Tuilagi, 20 Mathieu Tanguy, 21 Andro Dvali, 22 Gela Aprasidze, 23 Gabin Kretchmann
Referee: Peter Martin (Ire)
Assistant referees: Keane Davison (Ire) & Stuart Gaffikin (Ire)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ire)
Lions v Lyon Olympique Universitaire
(Venue: Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 17.15 SAST; 16.15 CET; 15.15 UK & IRE)
Prediction:
@Rugby365: Lyon by five points
Teams
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Eddie Davids
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 RF Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Henco van Wyk, 23 Rabz Maxwane
Lyon: 15 Alexandre Tchaptchet, 14 Charly Mignot, 13 Alfred Parisien, 12 Josiah Maraku, 11 Arthur Mathiron, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Esteban Gonzalez, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Beka Saginadze, 6 Antoine Deliance (captain), 5 Killian Geraci, 4 Félix Lambey, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 2 Mathis Sarragallet, 1 Hamza Kaabeche
Replacements: 16 Thomas Marceline, 17 Jérôme Rey, 18 Ave Maalo, 19 Mickael Guillard, 20 Liam Allen, 21 Lilian Baret, 22 Iosefo Balewairiki, 23 Jiuta Wainiqolo
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley (England) & Richard Gordon (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
Cardiff v Racing 92
(Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 15.15 UK & IRE; 16.15 CET; 17.15 SAST)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Cardiff by 11 points
Teams
Cardiff: 15 Jacob Beetham, 14 Iwan Stephens, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 George Nott, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Rhys Barratt
Replacements: 16 Dafydd Hughes, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Josh McNally, 20 James Botham, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 Harri Millard
Racing 92: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Sam James, 12 Vladi Ashvetia, 11 Nolann Donguy, 10 Antoine Gibert, 9 Leo Carbonneau, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Noa Zinzen, 6 Maxime Baudonne, 5 Jordan Joseph (captain), 4 Junior Kpoku, 3 Demba Bamba, 2 Lehopoame Leota, 1 Edouard Jabea Njocke
Replacements: 16 Janick Tarrit, 17 Lino Julien, 18 Gia Kharaishvili, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Auguste Albuisson, 21 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 22 Kleo Labarbe, 23 Arthur Espeut
Referee: Sara Cox (Eng)
Assistant referees: Harry Walbaum (Eng) & Jamie Parr (Eng)
TMO: Peter Allan (Eng)
Benetton v Dragons
(Venue: Stadio Monigo, Benetton – Kick-off: 18.30 CET; 17.30 UK & IRE; 19.30 SAST)
Prediction:
@Rugby365: Benetton by nine points
Teams
Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren (captain), 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Nicholas Gasperini, 1 Mirco Spagnolo
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Eli Snyman, 21 Michele Lamaro, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Leonardo Marin
Dragons: 15 Huw Anderson, 14 Ewan Rosser, 13 Dai Richards, 12 Joe Westwood, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Rhodri Williams (captain), 8 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Oli Burrows, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Jordan Morris, 18 Rob Hunt, 19 Barny Langton-Cryer, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Morgan Lloyd, 22 Jac Lloyd, 23 Aneurin Owen
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (Fra)
Assistant referees: Pierre Bru (Fra) & Thomas Chereque (Fra)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Sunday, January 11
Montpellier v Connacht
(Venue: Stadio Septeo, Montpellier – Kick-off: 14.00 CET; 13.00 UK & IRE; 15.00 SAST)
Prediction:
@Rugby365: Montpellier by 14 points
Teams
Montpellier: 15 Thomas Vincent, 14 Donovan Taofifenua, 13 Thomas Darmon, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Melvyn Rates, 10 Stuart Hogg, 9 Leo Coly, 8 Alex Masibaka, 7 Alex Becognee (captain), 6 Marco Tauleigne, 5 Bastien Chalureau, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Luka Japaridze, 2 Lyam Akrab, 1 Baptiste Erdocio
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Valentin Welsch, 19 Matthieu Uhila, 20. Langi Gleeson, 21 Alexis Bernadet, 22 Arthur Vincent, 23 Jules Ducros
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Harry West, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Paul Boyle, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Billy Bohan
Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Albert Lindner, 22 Sean Walsh, 23 John Devine
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SA)
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison (SA) & Alex Thomas (Eng)
TMO: David Rose (Eng)
Zebre Parma v Ospreys
(Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 14.00 CET; 13.00 UK & IRE; 15.00 SAST)
Prediction:
@Rugby365: Ospreys by 12 points
Teams
Zebre: 15 Giovanni Montemauri, 14 Mirko Belloni, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo da Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Giacomo Ferrari, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Jacopo Bianchi, 5 Leonardo Krumov (captain), 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 1 Muhamed Hasa
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Paolo Buonfiglio, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Alessandro Ortombina, 20 Davide Odiase, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Marco Zanon, 23 Bautista Stavile
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Iestyn Hopkins, 13 Evradi Boshoff, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 James Ratti, 5 James Fender, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Garyn Phillips
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Kian Hire, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Gwilym Evans, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Owen Watkin, 23 Daniel Kasende
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
Assistant referees: Rob McDowell (Sco) & Jack MacNiece (Ire)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)
Cheetahs v Ulster
(Venue: Dukes Rugby, ‘S Hertogenbosch – Kick-off: 15.00 SAST; 14.00 CET; 13.00 UK & IRE)
Prediction:
@Rugby365: Ulster by 15 points
Teams
Cheetahs: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 De-an Ackermann, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Marco Janse van Vuren, 8 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Sisonke Vumazonke, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Curtley Thomas, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (captain), 1 Dux Manyama
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Arno van der Merwe, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Michael Annies
Ulster: 15 Bradley McNamara, 14 Werner Kok, 13 James Hume, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jake Flannery, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Lorcan McLoughlin, 7 Sean Reffell, 6 Dave McCann, 5 Joe Hopes, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Rob Herring (c), 1 Sam Crean
Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Bryan O’Connor, 19 Matt Dalton, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 James Humphreys, 23 Ben Carson
Referee: Kevin Bralley (Fra)
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco‑Baque (Fra) & Flavien Hourquet (Fra)
TMO: Julien Casteignede (Fra)
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