Champions Cup, Round One - Teams and Predictions
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: South Africa’s Champions Cup journey enters its fourth chapter this weekend, and the big question lingers: can they finally push through to make history?
All eyes will turn to Loftus Versfeld and Stade Ernest-Wallon as the Bulls and Sharks launch their campaigns against European heavyweights.
At Loftus, the Bulls square up to reigning champions Union Bordeaux Bègles – a blockbuster opener by any measure.
Make no mistake, this is a stern first test. A victory would set UBB’s title defence on the perfect trajectory, but the URC finalists won’t offer the French giants any comfort in Pretoria. Renowned for their bruising pack and explosive backs, the Bulls have threats scattered across the park.
Their URC return of three wins and three losses mirrors UBB’s own inconsistency (six from 11), setting the stage for a clash where momentum and accuracy could decide everything.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Bulls coach Johan Ackermann braced himself for a stern test against the Top 14 side.
“They are a world-class team, Ackermann said, adding: “If you look at their history, they built themselves up from Division 3 and eventually got up in the French League. Then they worked themselves into one of the top teams in the current Top 14 and deservedly won the European Champions Cup last year.
“They delivered a lot of players for the French national side, and they’re going to come with a lot of confidence.
“They are an experienced team, and therefore it’s a great challenge for us.”
Ackermann said his team’s need to rectify last weekend’s mishaps, which saw them suffer a shock defeat to the Lions at Loftus Versfeld.
“We were disappointed in last week’s performance, just looking at the 80 minutes that we had so many opportunities during the game, but we didn’t execute.
“So this is as close as international rugby you can get if you just look at the two teams. And therefore, if you’re not going to use those opportunities, you’re probably not going to be on the winning side.
“Defensively, if we’re soft like last week, we will get exposed because if you analyse Bordeaux, they score all over the field and they score off every phase of play.
“They are well-balanced side. So they score off set-piece and counter-attack.”
The French club swept to their first major trophy in May, edging Northampton in the final to join the top table of continental rugby.
Only 14 outfits have lifted the Champions Cup, since it was first played in 1995, with UBB’s ambition firmly fixed on retaining the title at next year’s final in Bilbao.
“We have the motivation of being title-holders and wanting to keep that status,” Bordeaux-Begles’s South African forward Tiaan Jacobs told AFP on Thursday.
“I think that nothing will stop us even if it’s going to be a very tough first 20 minutes against the Bulls.
“They’re going to come out hard and firing.
“The Bulls are a really physical side and Loftus Versfeld, better known as the Bull Ring, is a tough place to play,” the 21-year-old added.
When sides run through the tunnel at the ground before the game, the last thing they see is a sign reading, ‘Altitude. 1,350m. It matters’ above them, to underline the difficulty of playing in such thin air.
“I think the altitude will definitely have a role to play in the game, but I think we’ve prepared well,” Jacobs said.
“We’ve been here a week in advance getting used to the conditions.
“I don’t think it’ll be something that will affect us too much,” the East London native added.
On Sunday, attention shifts to Toulouse, where the Sharks face the most decorated team in Champions Cup history: Stade Toulousain.
Toulouse arrive on a four-match winning streak in the French Top 14 and sit comfortably at the top of the standings with eight victories from 11.
The Sharks, meanwhile, haven’t enjoyed the smoothest URC start – while they also have had two major announcements with the 12-game ban of Eben Etzebeth and head coach John Plumtree stepping down earlier than expected.
The encounter will be Plumtree’s last match as head coach of the Sharks. JP Pietersen is set to take over as interim coach.
On the field, Plumtree also had to select a very young squad with the focus on next two home games at Kings Park.
“We’ve got two massive home games coming up but that’s only a part of it.
“The main one is the fact that all of our Springboks have been on a five-week tour of the UK and there’s obviously a player welfare here,” Plumtree said.
“Player welfare is an important part of it with these boys because they spend so much time away from home and just to add another week over here would have just burnt their batteries.
“It’s important they refresh with their families and that we can all join up in Durban next week.”
While Sharks might approach the encounter with caution, they certainly prepped for one massive 80-minute showdown.
“This is one of the best clubs in the world, very, very respected, very well supported and a game that these boys will never forget.
“[Tououse] got size, they’ve got power, and we’ve just got to make sure that every little thing that we do that’s positive, we celebrate, and we just got to make sure that we stay in the fight the whole time.”
For both South African sides, the task is immense – but so is the opportunity. The Champions Cup has a way of revealing who truly belongs on Europe’s biggest stage.
Saturday, December 6
Saracens v Clermont
(StoneX Stadium, London – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT; 14.00 French time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Saracens by five points
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Noah Caluori, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Max Malins, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ivan van Zyl (captain), 8 Tom Willis, 7 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 6 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 3 Marcus Street, 2 James Hadfield, 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Nathan Michelow, 21 Charlie Bracken, 22 Fergus Burke, 23 Rotimi Segun
Clermont: 15 Axel Guillaud, 14 Lucas Tauzin, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Bautista Delguy, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Baptiste Jauneau (captain), 8 Selevasio Tolofua, 7 Anthime Hemery, 6 Antoine Chalus-Cercy, 5 Tevita Ratuva, 4 Thibaud Lanen, 3 Cristian Ojovan, 2 Etienne Fourcade, 1 Sacha Lotrian
Replacements: 16 Tom Belkessa, 17 Matheo Frisach, 18 Giorgi Dzmanashvili, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Leo Michaux Vargas, 21 Sebastien Bezy, 22 George Moala, 23 Lucas Dessaigne
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland), Jonny MacKenzie (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Bulls v Bordeaux-Begles
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 17.15; 15.15 GMT; 16.15 French time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Bordeaux by 10 points
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Marcell Coetzee (Captain), 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Johann Grobberlaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jeandre Rudolf, 22 Embrose Papier, 23 Stravino Jacobs
Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu (captain), 8 Temo Matiu, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Boris Palu, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 Tiaan Jacobs, 21 Arthur Retiere, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Salesi Rayasi
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Joe James (England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
La Rochelle v Leicester
(Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 GMT; 17.30 UK Time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: La Rochelle by eight points
Teams:
La Rochelle: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Davit Niniashvili, 13 Adrien Seguret, 12 UJ Seuteni, 11 Jules Favre, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Thomas Berjon, 8 Grégory Alldritt (captain), 7 Levani Botia, 6 Oscar Jegou, 5 Charles Kante Samba, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Alexandre Kaddour
Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Lucas Andjisseramatchi, 21 Nolhann Couillaud, 22 Diego Jurd, 23 Nathan Bollengier
Leicester Tigers: 15 George Pearson, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Will Wand, 12 Joe Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Tom Whiteley, 8 Joaquin Moro, 7 Josh Manz, 6 James Thompson, 5 Harry Wells, 4 Cameron Henderson, 3 Will Hurd, 2 Charlie Clare (captain), 1 Tareq Haffar
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobald-Thomas, 17 Archie van der Flier, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Tom Manz, 20 Sam Williams, 21 Ollie Allan, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Solomone Kata
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Leinster v Harlequins
(Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Leinster by 25 points
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Ciarán Frawley, 11 Jordan Larmour, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Paddy McCarthy
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Rieko Ioane
Harlequins: 15 Cameron Anderson, 14 Cassius Cleaves, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Luke Northmore, 11 Cadan Murley (captain), 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Will Porter, 8 Tom Lawday, 7 Will Evans, 6 Zach Carr, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Boris Wenger
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Will Hobson, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Lucas Schmid, 21 Lucas Friday, 22 Jamie Benson, 23 Bryn Bradley
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Ben Breakspear (Wales)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)
Scarlets v Bristol
(Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – Kick-off: 20.00, 20.00 GMT)
Prediction
Rugby365: Bristol by 15 points
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Jac Davies, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Eddie James, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 6 Max Douglas, 5 Jake Ball, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Archer Holz, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Jarrod Taylor, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Joe Roberts
Bristol Bears: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10 Sam Worsley, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Bill Mata, 7 Fitz Harding (captain), 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Joe Batley, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 Max Lahiff, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Benjamin Grondona, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Aidan Boshoff, 23 Josh Carrington
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Filippo Russo (Italy), Franco Rosella (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
Bath v Munster
(The Rec, Bath – Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Bath by five points
Teams:
Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (captain), 8 Miles Reid, 7 Guy Pepper, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Santi Carreras, 23 Sam Underhill
Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 5 Tom Ahern, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Ruadhan Quinn, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Alex Kendellen
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
Assistant Referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Benjamin Hernandez (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Sunday, December 7:
Pau v Northampton Saints
(Stade du Hameau, Pau – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT; 13.00 UK time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Northampton by five points
Teams:
Pau: 15 Aymeric Luc, 14 Gregoire Arfeuil, 13 Jack Maddocks, 12 Nathan Decron, 11 Clement Laporte, 10 Axel Desperes, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Loic Credoz, 6 Sacha Zegueur, 5 Remi Picquette, 4 Thomas Jolmes, 3 Jon Zabala Arrieta, 2 Julian Montoya (capatin), 1 Alexandre Etchebehere
Replacements: 16 Lucas Rey, 17 Remi Seneca, 18 Guram Papidze, 19 Mickael Capelli, 20 Joel Kpoku, 21 Reece Hewat, 22 Thomas Souverbie, 23 Quentin Valentino
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank (captain), 14 James Ramm, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 George Hendy, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Callum Chick, 7 Tom Pearson, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 JJ van der Mescht, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 Craig Wright, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 Ed Prowse, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Sam Graham, 22 Tom James, 23 Toby Thame
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Clara Munarini (Italy), Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Toulouse v Sharks
(Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse – Kick-off: 16.17; 15.15 GMT; 17.15 SA time)
Predictions
Rugby365: Toulouse by 30 points
Teams:
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Teddy Thomas, 12 Kalvin Gourgues, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Paul Graou, 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 Leo Banos, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Joel Merkler, 2 Julien Marchand (captain), 1 Rodrigue Neti
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 David Ainu’u, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Mathis Castro-Ferreira, 21 Antoine Dupont, 22 Paul Costes, 23 Dimitri Delibes
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazola Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Simphiwe Ngobese, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Jannes Potgieter, 20 Tinotenda Mavesere, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Phikolomzi Sobahle
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England), Simon Harding (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
Gloucester v Castres
(Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester – Kick-off: 15.15; 15.15 GMT; 16.15 French time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Gloucester by five points
Teams:
Gloucester: 15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Tomos Williams (captain), 8 Will Trenholm, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Deian Gwynne, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Freddie Thomas, 3 Kirill Gotovtsev, 2 Seb Blake, 1 Ciaran Knight
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Afolabi Fasogbon, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Josh Basham, 21 Mike Austin, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Rob Russell
Castres: 15 Theo Chabouni, 14 Christian Ambadiang, 13 Vuate Karawalevu, 12 Vilimoni Botitu, 11 Rémy Baget, 10 Pierre Popelin, 9 Jeremy Fernandez, 8 Veresa Ramototabua, 7 Baptiste Cope, 6 Baptiste Delaporte (captain), 5 Florent Vanverberghe, 4 Guillaume Ducat, 3 Aurelien Azar, 2 Loris Zarantonello, 1 Quentin Walcker
Replacements: 16 Teddy Durand-Pradere, 17 Atunaisa Sokobale, 18 Levan Chilachava, 19 Gauthier Maravat, 20 Abraham Papalii, 21 Gauthier Doubrere, 22 Enzo Herve, 23 Jack Goodhue
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Ian Kenny (Scotland), Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Edinburgh v Toulon
(Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT; 18.30 French time)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Toulon by seven points
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Harry Paterson, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Wes Goosen, 12 Findlay Thomson, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Cammy Scott, 9 Ben Vellacott,
8 Magnus Bradbury (captain), 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Harri Morris, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Glen Young, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 James Lang, 23 Piers O’Conor
Toulon: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Gaël Drean, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Jérémy Sinzelle, 11 Mathis Ferte, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Ben White, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Esteban Abadie, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 5 Brian Alainu’uese, 4 David Ribbans (captain), 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Toevalu, 17 Leo Ametlla, 18 Dany Priso, 19 Corentin Mezou, 20 Joe Quere Karaba, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Matéo Garcia, 23 Mathieu Smaili
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Sara Cox (England), Greg MacDonald (England)
TMO: Daniel Jones (England)
