Challenge Cup, Round Two - Teams and Predictions
SATURDAY PREVIEW: The Challenge Cup hits Round Two this weekend, and several big teams are already under pressure after shock home defeats for the Lions and Lyon.
The Lions’ loss to Benetton has left them needing a fast rebound, but they’ve travelled to Newcastle with a depleted squad. Still, the mood is fiery, with players determined to put things right and embrace new combinations in unfamiliar English winter conditions.
The Cheetahs are also chasing a response after a heavy defeat to Exeter, but face a powerful Stade Français outfit in Amsterdam – a far more battle-hardened side midway through their Top 14 season.
Montauban will hope to recover from a bruising debut when they host the Ospreys, while United Rugby Championship rivals Cardiff and Ulster square off after contrasting Round 1 performances.
Connacht, strong at home, will fancy their chances against Black Lion – with both sides desperate to avoid another second-half collapse.
These matches will be crucial in the teams’ playoff hopes, given that the European showpieces consist of only four round-robin matches before the knock-out stages, which begin with the Round of 16.
The Lions travelled to England with a depleted squad, the result of mounting injuries and strategic rest for several senior players.
For some teams, such circumstances might spell trouble, but the mood within the Lions camp is one of opportunity rather than concern, said Lions loose forward Jarrod Cairns.
“It was a tough result for us (against Benetton). We came back, went to the drawing board and we identified what we need to fix. We’re going to come out this weekend with a bit of a punch and we know what we need to do there.
“We looked at each other in the change room, in the eyes, and we said that we’d never want to feel like that again. So we’re going over there with a bit of fire in us.
“As a player group heading over, we are very fired up. Some guys want to go there and prove that they do deserve their opportunity,” Cairns said, adding, “But we are going as a collective and we just want to get a good result there. Especially after the result on the weekend.”
For many of the players, it is their first tour to England, so it will be a completely new experience, while a number of thrilling new combinations could also be playing in a competitive match together for the first time.
“It is exciting. Obviously, we train day in and day out together, so we all know what each of us can do. But it is exciting to go on the field and play with some new combinations.
“It’s the first time a lot of us will be there, it’s the UK weather, and it’s winter that side. It’s going to be wet. We have heard stories about how tough it is playing over there. So it’s not going to be easy and we just have to go over with the right mindset and do the job.”
The Cheetahs face another stern test that they will need to win if they want to keep their hopes alive of reaching the Challenge Cup playoffs.
“We want more game. We’ve been asking for a competition for how long. We still have to deliver. We’ve got the opportunity in this competition, we must deliver and show people our worth, ” said coach Frans Steyn.
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“We’ve just lacked playing this quality of game. I am not saying that the Griquas and Boland aren’t good, because they both beat us, but this is just another level. If you just look at our player budgets, theirs dwarf ours by five times.
“In saying that, I think the guys pitched up, they fought until the end. The mistakes that cost us were our own. They are a top side, second in the English Premier League.
“So in my eyes, I think they’re too good for the Challenge Cup. When they came out, they were on fire, and with the players they have, they were always going to punish any mistakes from us.
“But the guys played well. Physically, I thought we were great. We just need more games like this and to keep on building.”
See below for Round Two’s teams and predictions!
Benetton v USAP
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso; Kick-off: 14.00, 13.00 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365: Benetton by 12 points
Teams:
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Andy Uren (captain), 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Giosue Zilocchi, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Mirco Spagnolo,
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Giulio Marini, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Malakai Fekitoa
USAP: 15 Mayron Fahy, 14 Riko Buliruarua, 13 Freddy Duguivalu, 12 Job Poulet, 11 Lucas Dubois, 10 Hugo Reus, 9 Gela Aprasidze, 8 Andro Dvali, 7. Max Hicks, 6 Mahamadou Diaby (captain), 5 Bastien Chinarro, 4 Peceli Yato, 3 Akato Fakatika, 2 Sama Malolo, 1 Bruce Devaux,
Replacements: 16 Mathys Lotrian, 17 Lorencio Boyer-Gallardo, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Davit Lagvilava, 20 Simon Taty, 21 James Hall, 22 Gabin Kretchmann, 23 Tavite Veredamu
Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
Assistant referees: Carwyn Sion (Wal) & Gareth Newman (Wales)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)
Cheetahs v Stade Français
(NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam; Kick-off: 14.00; 15.00 SAST; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365: Stade Francais by 15 points
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 De-an Ackermann, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 George Lourens, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Gideon van der Merwe, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Juan Venter, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (captain), Cameron Dawson
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17. Matome Manyama, 18. Frankie Dos Reis, 19.Curtley Thomas, 20. Sisonke Vumazonke, 21. Neels Volschenk, 22. Jandré Nel, 23. Clayton Blommetjies
Stade Francais: 15 Mathis Ibo, 14 Charles Laloi, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Jeremy Ward (captain), 11 Andy Timo, 10. Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 9 Thibaut Motassi, 8 Iakopo Mapu, 7 Ryan Chapuis, 6 Juan-Martin Scelzo, 5 Jacques Botha, 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Alvaro Garcia Albo, 1 Jack Iscaro
Replacements: 16 Lucas Peyresblanques, 17 Moses Alo-Emile, 18 Braxton Asi, 19 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 20.Setareki Turagacoke, 21 Noah Nene, 22 Martin Blum, 23 Joe Jonas
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England) & Jonathan Healy (England)
TMO: Dean Richards (England)
Montauban v Ospreys
(Stade Sapiac,Montauban; Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365: Ospreys by 10 points
Teams:
Montauban: 15 Segundo Tuculet, 14 Stephane Ahmed, 13 Romain Fonnicola, 12 Gibson Popoali’i, 11 Paul Vallee, 10 Thomas Fortunel, 9 Hugo Zabalza, 8 Tyrone Viiga (captain), 7 Vaea Fifita, 6 Fred Quercy, 5 Noa Kanika, 4 Clement Bitz, 3 Valentin Simutoga, 2 Jeremie Maurouard, 1 Leo Aouf
Replacements: 16 Kevin Firmin, 17 Thomas Bue, 18 Nafi Ma’afu, 19 Tjuee Uanivi, 20 Mael Castel, 21 Merlin Leflamand, 22 Maxime Mathy, 23 Facundo Pomponio
Ospreys: 15 Max Nagy, 14 Ryan Conbeer, 13 Evradi Boshoff, 12 Phil Cokanasiga, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Jack Walsh (captain), 9 Luke Davies, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Gwilym Evans, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 James Fender, 4 Huw Sutton, 3 Rhys Henry, 2 Lewis Lloyd, 1 Cameron Jones,
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Kian Hire, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Morgan Morris, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Owen Watkin, 23 Iestyn Hopkins
Referee: Adam Leal (England)
Assitant referees: Hamish Grant (England) & Wayne Falla (England)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
Newcastle v Lions
(Kingston Park, Newcastle; Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT; 19.30 SAST)
Prediction:
@rugby365: Newcastle by nine points
Teams:
Newcastle: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Cammy Hutchison, 11 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 10 Ethan Grayson, 9 Sam Stuart, 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 6 Tom Gordon, 5 Finn Baker, 4 Oscar Usher, 3 Richard Palframan, 2 Ollie Fletcher, 1 Adam Brocklebank
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Amanaki Mafi, 21 James Elliott, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Harrison Obatoyinbo
Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp (captain), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2. Morne Brandon, 1 Eddie Davids
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Jarod Cairns, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhard Jonker
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Bru (France) & Thomas Chereque (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (France)
Connacht v Black Lion
(Dexcom Stadium, Connact; Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT; 00.00 GET Sunday, December 14)
Prediction:
@rugby365: Connacht by 15 points
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Hugh Gavin, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8. Sean Jansen, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Paul Boyle (captain), 5 Niall Murray, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Jordan Duggan
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 David Hawkshaw, 23 Harry West
Black Lions: 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 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 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 Guram Ganiashvili, 20 Giorgi Kervalishvili, 21 Giorgi Spenderashvili, 22 Zaur Lutidze, 23 Sandro Todua
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant referees: Richard Gordon (England) & Jamie Leahy (England)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)
Cardiff vs Ulster
(Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365: Ulster by 10 points
Teams:
Cardiff: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Harri Millard, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Alun Lawrence (captain), 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James Botham, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 George Nott, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Dafydd Hughes, 1 Rhys Barratt
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Josh McNally, 20. Alex Mann, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Jacob Beetham, 23 Cam Winnett
Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Werner Kok, 13 James Hume, 12 Ben Carson, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jake Flannery, 9 Conor McKee, 8 Bryn Ward, 7 Sean Reffell, 6 Dave McCann, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart (captain), 1 Callum Reid,
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Rory McGuire, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 James Humphreys, 23 Bradley McNamara
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy (France) & Anthony Lac (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Sunday, December 14
Racing 92 v Exeter
(Stade Dominique Duvauchelle, Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365: Exeter by 12 points
Teams:
Racing 92: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Nolann Donguy, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Joey Manu, 11 Selestino Ravutaumada, 10 Antoine Gibert, 9 Kleo Labarbe, 8 Noa Zinzen, 7 Thomas Lainault, 6 Fabien Sanconnie, 5 Will Rowlands (captain), 4 Junior Kpoku, 3 Gia Kharaishvili, 2 Yanis Basse, 1 Edouard Jabea Njocke
Replacements: 16 Lehopoame Leota, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 21 Auguste Albuisson, 22 Antoine Latrasse, 23 Vinaya Habosi
Exeter: 15 Will Haydon-Wood, 14 Dan John, 13 Harry Ascherl, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Campbell Ridl, 10 Ben Coen, 9 Charlie Chapman, 8 Kane James, 7 Martin Moloney, 6 Richard Capstick, 5 Rus Tuima, 4 Lewis Pearson (captain), 3 Jimmy Roots, 2 Julian Heaven, 1 Ethan Burger,
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Khwezi Mona, 19 Oscar Beckerleg, 20 Ethan Roots, 21 Greg Fisilau, 22 Tom Cairns, 23 Ollie Batson
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Riccardo Angelucci (Italy) & Luca Bisetto (Italy)
TMO: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy)
Dragons v Lyon Olympique Universitaire
(Rodney Parade, Newport; Kick-off: 15.15; 15.15 GMT; 16.15 CET)
Prediction:
@rugby365: Lyon by eight points
Teams:
Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien (captain), 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Dai Richards, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Huw Anderson, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Niall Armstrong, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Rob Hunt, 2 Oli Burrows, 1 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths,
Replacements: 16 Will Austin, 17 Jordan Morris, 18 Owain James, 19 Ryan Woodman, 20 Harrison Keddie, 21 Che Hope, 22 Joe Westwood, 23 Ewan Rosser
Lyon: 15 Ethan Dumortier, 14 Dorian Diabou, 13 Alfred Parisien, 12 Iosefo Balewairiki, 11 Arthur Mathiron, 10 Alexandre Tchaptchet, 9 Charlie Cassang, 8 Maxime Gouzou, 7 Beka Shvangiradze, 6 Marvin Okuya, 5 Janse Roux, 4 Félix Lambey (captain), 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 2 Mathis Sarragallet, 1 Jérôme Rey,
Replacements: 16 Thomas Marceline, 17 Hamza Kaabeche, 18 Ave Maalo, 19 Bartholome Sanson, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Lilian Baret, 22 Esteban Gonzalez, 23 Josiah Maraku
Referee: Fillippo Russo (Italy)
Assistant referees: Lorenzo Pedezzi (Italy) & Riccardo Bonato (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy )
