Champions Cup, Round Three - Teams and Predictions
FRIDAY PREVIEW: There is a big spotlight on Pool Two in the Champions Cup, with only one point separating Bath in first place and Edinburgh in sixth place.
Johann van Graan’s Bath will enter Round Three with six points, before things get really interesting with Castres, Munster, Toulon, Gloucester and Edinburgh all sitting with five points.
Two-time British & Irish Lion Duhan van der Merwe returns to Edinburgh’s starting line-up for Friday’s clash with Gloucester at Hive Stadium.
The prolific winger returns from a hip injury and is one of three changes to the starting XV that secured a hard-fought victory in Treviso last weekend.
James Whitcombe makes his second start of the season at loosehead prop, while impressive young loose forward Liam McConnell returns to the starting side after featuring from the bench at Stadio Monigo.
The preview continues below…
“There is nothing quite like being back under the Friday night lights at Hive Stadium,” said Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt.
“European games are incredibly special; they bring a different level of intensity and prestige that our players and fans thrive on.
“The atmosphere during the win over RC Toulon last month was electric – the stadium was jumping – and we want to see that same level of passionate support again this Friday.
“We are under no illusions about the challenge ahead; we are facing a very strong Gloucester team. We’ll need another massive, disciplined 80-minute performance to get the result we’re looking for.”
Van der Merwe’s return sees Wes Goosen return to fullback, while Scotland star Darcy Graham – fresh from scoring an all-effort solo try against Benetton – retains his place on the opposite wing.
There is continuity in the spine of the team. Centres James Lang and Matt Currie continue their partnership in the midfield after an impressive showing in Italy, while the halfback pairing of Ross Thompson and scrumhalf Ben Vellacott remains unchanged.
*Friday’s other match will see Castres Olympique at home against Pool Two leaders Bath.
Bath’s front row remains unchanged from last weekend’s victory over Exeter Chiefs, seeing Beno Obano, Tom Dunn and Vilikesa Sela retaining their starting jerseys.
Quinn Roux comes back into the starting line-up, joining Ross Molony in the tight five.
Ted Hill and last week’s Man of the Match, Alfie Barbeary, retain their positions in the back row, with Miles Reid coming in to complete the forward pack.
Ben Spencer will captain from scrumhalf, joined by Finn Russell at flyhalf.
Cameron Redpath remains as inside centre, joined by Max Ojomoh, who starts at 13.
Will Muir, Henry Arundell and Santi Carreras complete the backline.
Francois van Wyk, Kepu Tuipulotu and Thomas du Toit will provide their impact from the bench, alongside Josh Bayliss and Guy Pepper. Tom Carr-Smith, Will Butt and Joe Cokanasiga complete this weekend’s replacements.
See below for Friday’s teams and predictions!
Friday, January 9:
Castres Olympique v Bath
(Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres – Kick-off: 21.00 CET; 20.00 UK & IRE; 22.00 SAST)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Bath by two points.
Teams:
Castres Olympique: 15 Theo Chabouni, 14 Christian Ambadiang, 13 Vuate Karawalevu, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Nathanael Hulleu, 10 Pierre Popelin, 9 Jeremy Fernandez, 8 Tyler Ardron, 7 Baptiste Cope, 6 Baptiste Delaporte (captain), 5 Florent Vanverberghe, 4 Guillaume Ducat, 3 Will Collier, 2 Teddy Durand-Pradere, 1 Quentin Walcker.
Replacements: 16 Loris Zarantonello, 17 Atunaisa Sokobale, 18 Nicolas Corato, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Simon Meka, 21 Gauthier Doubrere, 22 Enzo Herve, 23 Geoffrey Palis.
Bath: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Henry Arundell, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (captain), 8 Alfie Barbeary, 7 Miles Reid, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Ross Molony, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Billy Sela, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Josh Bayliss, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Will Butt, 23 Joe Cokanasiga.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Daniel Carson (Ireland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Edinburgh v Gloucester
(Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 20.00 UK & IRE; 21.00 CET; 22.00 SAST)
Prediction
Rugby365: Edinburgh by nine points.
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 James Lang, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Magnus Bradbury (captain), 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Glen Young, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Harri Morris, 1 James Whitcombe.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Euan McVie, 20 Tom Dodd, 21 Ben Muncaster, 22 Charlie Shiel, 23 Piers O’Conor.
Gloucester: 15 George Barton, 14 Jack Cotgreave, 13 Will Butler, 12 Seb Atkinson (captain), 11 Josh Hathaway, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Mike Austin, 8 Jack Clement, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Deian Gwynne, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Freddie Thomas, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Will Crane, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin.
Replacements: 16 George Knowles, 17 Ciaran Knight, 18 Afolabi Fasogbon, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 James Venter, 21 Rhys Price, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jake Morris.
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
