Champions Cup, Round Four - Teams and Predictions
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: The Sharks and Stormers have all to play for in the final pool round of the Champions Cup.
The Sharks host Clermont Auvergne in the opening match of Saturday’s action at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in a must-win clash to progress to the Round of 16.
Ironically, they might need a favour from namesake Sale Sharks to upset six-time champions Toulouse, which will be a tough ask.
Head coach JP Pietersen has switched things up a bit with his team selection, maintaining some continuity from last week’s trip to Manchester, while bringing back a range of stalwarts across the board.
There are starts for Matt Romao and PK Sobahle, with World Cup winners Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi upfront and Aphelele Fassi at fullback.
Brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse form the halfback pairing, while Jurenzo Julius retains his No.12 jersey, partnering with Le Roux Malan in the midfield.
Nick Hatton continues his lead-by-example role, having retained the captaincy for the match against the 114-year old club and three-time Champions Cup runners-up, two-time French Champions (2010 and 2017) and Challenge Cup champions on three different occasions, most recently in 2019, the Sharks taking that honour in 2024.
The Stormers’ unbeaten run in all competitions came to a sobering end last Sunday when Harlequins defeated the Capetonians by 61-10, ensuring qualification and leaving John Dobson’s side in a must-win situation against Leicester Tigers.
Director of Rugby Dobson rested a full squad for this clash with a six-day turnaround in mind, and it could reap rewards should the Stormers get a winning result and possibly move up to second place in Pool 3, depending on the result between Stade Rochelais and Harlequins on Sunday.
The Stormers are without the services of Damian Willemse, Warrick Gelant, and Cobus Reinach, who are out due to their respective injuries. Additionally, Ruhan Nel hasn’t been considered as a precautionary measure.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will don the captain’s armband for the Stormers for the first time against the Tigers.
Dobson explained the decision to hand the responsibility to the exciting playmaker in such a crucial match.
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“He’s always been earmarked [as a leader] from playing Under-21s as a future Stormers captain,” Dobson told Rugby365.
“To be honest, the reason he wasn’t [captain] sooner this season was that he was in the national set-up at the start [of the United Rugby Championship] and we got a bit of momentum with Ruhan [Nel].
“We first wanted him to settle in by driving the game because over the last couple of years he’s been our No.10 and game driver and the captaincy might have seemed a bit [too] much.
“But he’s a future Stormers captain, and it’s a great opportunity looking at the way he drives the leadership.”
Commenting on his new responsibility, Feinberg-Mngomezulu said that he enjoys leading by example and instilling confidence in his teammates.
“I’d like to set an example and bring my A game to the field. That’s my favourite way of leading.
“And bringing the guys with me and giving other people confidence. I love giving my teammates confidence.
“When you have 15 confident guys on the field for the Stormers, then we’re unbeatable, so that’s my goal to ensure everyone is confident and ready.”
Dobson said that his team will be going all-out to secure a win that would guarantee their place in the Round of 16.
“The goal for us is simple – we must beat a good Leicester Tigers team to continue our journey in this competition.
“While we have been disrupted in some key positions, we have every faith that the players selected will rise to the occasion.
“We are back at home and determined to deliver a top performance in front of our fans.
“There is all to play for, not least of all the jersey that we wear and the people that we represent each week,” he said.
In the other clashes, Leinster will look to top Pool 3 when they host Avion Bayonnais, while Munster and Castres have it all to play for in a wide-open Pool 2 for a qualifying spot.
There will also be eyes on Gloucester and Toulon, who are in the same pool and have the same objectives as the rest of their competitors.
On Sunday, Bristol Bears and Bordeaux battle it out for top spot in Pool 4, with Northampton Saints looking to move up the ladder as well.
The final clash of the weekend takes place between Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors and Saracens, with the latter needing a victory to ensure qualification for the Round of 16.
See below for Saturday and Sunday’s teams and predictions!
Saturday, January 17
Sharks v Clermont Auvergne
(Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 CET; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Sharks by 12 points
Teams
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 PK Sobahle, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Hakeem Kunene
Clermont Auvergne: 15 Kylan Hamdaoui, 14 Yerim Fall, 13 Timeo Frier, 12 Alifereti Loaloa, 11 Joris Jurand, 10 Irae Simone, 9 Lucas Zamora, 8 Anthime Hemery, 7 Lucas Dessaigne, 6 Killian Tixeront (captain), 5 Leo Michaux Vargas, 4 Thibaud Lanen, 3 Cristian Ojovan, 2 Etienne Fourcade, 1 Matheo Frisach
Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam, 17 Giga Tutisani, 18 Giorgi Dzmanashvili, 19 Baptiste Veschambre, 20 Pio Muarua, 21 Niek Doornenbal, 22 Tom Raffy, 23 Axel Guillaud
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England), Richard Gordon (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
Avion Bayonnais v Leinster
(Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Leinster by 20 points
Teams
Avion Bayonnias:15 Cheikh Tiberghien, 14 Tom Spring, 13 Sireli Maqala, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Yohan Orabe, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Nika Lomidze, 7 Arthur Iturria (captain), 6 Alexandre Fischer,5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Ewan Johnson, 3 Junior Tagi, 2 Lucas Martin, 1 Ignacio Calles
Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Emosi Tumania, 18 Emerick Setiano, 19 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 20 Baptiste Heguy, 21 Manex Ariceta, 22 Guillaume Martocq, 23 Victor Hannoun
Leinster:15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Joshua Kenny, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Jack Boyle
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Jerry Cahir, 18 Tom Clarkson, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Rieko Ioane
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Joe James (England), Jonathan Healy (England)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
Stormers v Leicester Tigers
(DHL Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 17.15; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Stormers by eight points
Teams
Stormers: 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (captain), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Luke Burger, 23 JC Mars.
Leicester Tigers: 15 George Pearson, 14 Gabe Hamer-Webb, 13 Will Wand, 12 Joe Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Tom Whiteley, 8 Olly Cracknell (captain), 7 Sam Williams, 6 Joaquin Moro, 5 Harry Wells, 4 James Thompson, 3 Will Hurd, 2 Jamie Blamire, 1 Tareq Haffar
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobald-Thomas, 17 Archie van der Flier, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Tom Manz, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Ollie Allan, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Ryan Crowley
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France), Benjamin Hernandez (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (France)
Stade Toulousain v Sale Sharks
(Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Stade Toulousain by 16 points
Teams
Stade Toulousain: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Dimitri Delibes, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Leo Banos, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Paul Mallez, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 François Cros, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Teddy Thomas
Sale Sharks: 15 Ollie Davies, 14 Obi Ene, 13 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Alex Wills, 10 Tom Curtis, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Sam Dugdale, 7 Tristan Woodman, 6 Jos Gilmore, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Tom Burrow, 3 James Harper, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 1 Bevan Rodd
Replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 Patreece Bell, 19 Patrick Hogg, 20 Reuben Logan, 21 Dom Hanson, 22 Joe Bedlow, 23 Regan Grace
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland), Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Munster v Castres Olympique
(Thomond Park, Limerick – Kick-off: 17.30; 18.30 CET; 17.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Munster by six points
Teams
Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Ben O’Connor, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Jack O’Donoghue, 6 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Dan Kelly
Castres Olympique: 15 Theo Chabouni, 14 Christian Ambadiang, 13 Vuate Karawalevu, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Geoffrey Palis, 10 Pierre Popelin, 9 Jeremy Fernandez,8 Florent Vanverberghe, 7 Baptiste Cope, 6 Baptiste Delaporte (captain), 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Gauthier Maravat, 3 Will Collier,2 Loris Zarantonello, 1 Atunaisa Sokobale
Replacements: 16 Teddy Durand-Pradere, 17 Antoine Tichit, 18 Aurelien Azar, 19 Leone Nakarawa, 20 Tyler Ardron, 21 Santiago Arata, 22 Enzo Herve, 23 Atu Manu
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: David Rose (England)
Gloucester v RC Toulon
(Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester – Kick-off: 20.00; 21.00 CET; 20.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Toulon by five points
Teams
Gloucester: 15 George Barton, 14 Josh Hathaway, 13 Will Butler, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Jack Cotgreave, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Tomos Williams (captain), 8 Jack Clement, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Will Trenholm, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Danny Eite, 3 Nepo Laulala,2 Will Crane, 1 Dian Bleuler
Replacements: 16 George Knowles, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Deian Gwynne, 20 James Venter, 21 Mike Austin, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jake Morris
RC Toulon: 15 Marius Domon, 14 Gaël Drean, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Oliver Cowie, 11 Mathis Ferte, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Ben White, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 5 Brian Alainu’uese, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Toevalu, 17 Leo Ametlla, 18 Dany Priso, 19 Giorgi Javakhia, 20 Esteban Abadie, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Matéo Garcia, 23 Jérémy Sinzelle
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Keane Davison (Ireland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Sunday, January 18:
Bristol Bears v Union Bordeaux Bègles
(Ashton Gate, Bristol – Kick-off: 13.00; 14.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Union Bordeaux Bègles by 18 points
Teams
Bristol Bears: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Bill Mata, 7 Fitz Harding (captain), 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Joe Batley, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 George Kloska, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Benjamin Grondona, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Matias Moroni
Union Bordeaux Bègles:15 Romain Buros, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Temo Matiu, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Boris Palu, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Maxime Lamothe (captain), 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Connor Sa, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Cyril Cazeaux, 20 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Joey Carbery, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Salesi Rayasi
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Shota Tevzadze (Georgia), Andrew Cole (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Northampton Saints v Scarlets
(Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton – Kick-off: 15.15 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Northampton Saints by 25 points
Teams
Northampton Saints: 15 James Ramm, 14 Edoardo Todaro, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall (captain), 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Henry Pollock, 7 Sam Graham, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 JJ van der Mescht, 4 Chunya Munga, 3 Trevor Davison,2 Robbie Smith, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun
Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Tom Lockett, 20 Callum Chick, 21 Archie McParland, 22 James Pater, 23 George Hendy
Scarlets: 15 Jac Davies, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Archie Hughes, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Jake Ball, 4 Max Douglas, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jarrod Taylor, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Macs Page, 23 Tomi Lewis
Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baque (France), Flavien Hourquet (France)
TMO: Julien Castaignede (France)
Stade Rochelais v Harlequins
(Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle- Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Stade Rochelais by 15 points
Teams
Stade Rochelais: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Davit Niniashvili, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Simeli Daunivucu, 11 Nathan Bollengier, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Thomas Berjon, 8 Judicael Cancoriet, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Oscar Jegou, 5 Paul Boudehent, 4 Charles Kante Samba, 3 Uini Atonio (captain), 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Alexandre Kaddouri
Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 20 Grégory Alldritt, 21 Kirill Fraindt, 22 Jules Favre, 23 Jack Nowell
Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Nick David, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Bryn Bradley, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Lucas Friday, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Jack Kenningham, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 Guido Petti, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Simon Kerrod
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Will Hobson, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Zach Carr, 21 Tom Lawday, 22 Max Green, 23 Jarrod Evans
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy), Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Glasgow Warriors v Saracens
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 17.30 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Glasgow Warriors by three points
Teams
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Euan Ferrie, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Ben Afshar
Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Max Malins, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Juan-Martin Gonzalez, 6 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Marcus Street, 2 Jamie George, 1 Eroni Mawi
Replacements: 16 James Hadfield, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Charlie Bracken, 22 Olly Hartley, 23 Noah Caluori
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
