Champions Cup, Round Three - Teams and Predictions
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: Round Three of the Champions Cup almost feels like a teaser for the Springboks v England clash in Johannesburg in July.
South Africa’s three franchises, the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers, are all facing English opposition this weekend.
On Saturday, the Bulls are at home against Bristol Bears in Pool Four, while the Sharks are in Manchester for a Pool One clash against Sale.
On Sunday, the Stormers will look to maintain their unbeaten run as they go up against Harlequins in London.
In Pretoria, the Bulls will be seeking their first win of the campaign to keep qualification hopes alive, while Bristol will be spurred on by their PREM form, having won their last four matches.
‘A new start’
Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann will be hoping that this fixture will turn his side’s fortunes around.
“Things are definitely feeling a bit different now that we’ve got everybody there in the room. Hopefully, we can get consistency in selection,” said the former Springbok lock.
“It doesn’t help if you have Canan [Moodie] for the one weekend and then he is out again [with concussion], and you don’t have Kurt-Lee [Arendse] and Cameron [Hanekom], who were probably the stars in the last few years at the Bulls.
“But you saw Jeandre Rudolph stepping up, and you saw other guys stepping up.
“It’s a different team in a sense, although people think it’s the same squad. However, the same squad hasn’t played a continuous number of games that brings you confidence and brings you momentum.
“At this stage, I think we are close and hopefully if we can get that going in the next couple of weeks – getting players back and getting consistency in our selection – we will have a new start in the new year for our campaign.”
The preview continues below…
Shark fest
It’s a clash of the Sharks in Pool One as the South Africans head to Sale, with the hosts currently just one point ahead in the pool tables.
JP Pietersen has opted to leave several stars at home to prepare for their final-round clash against Clermont in Durban next weekend.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of familiar faces in Sale’s line-up. They come in the form of Robert du Preez, Marius Louw, Jacques Vermeulen and Hyron Andrews.
“They will obviously have an impact on the game, and the players know each other really well,” said Pietersen.
“Jacques is a physical guy, and Marius Louw is also physical. They will share some key points, but I can only control what we can control.
“We’ve pretty much analysed what we need to do against them, and we know tomorrow [Saturday] is going to be a physical battle.”
The preview continues below…
London calling
Sunday’s Champions Cup action kicks off in London with Harlequins hosting the Stormers in icy conditions.
The Capetonians – who are also unbeaten and top the URC table – present a formidable challenge as they look to maintain their position at the top of Pool Three.
Damian Willemse, the Stormers captain for the match, believes Harlequins will revert to their attacking ‘DNA’ for Sunday’s match.
“I don’t know how the weather is going to turn out, but I think it’s definitely going to be a physical game, and the aerial game is going to be massive again coming from their side as well,” he said.
“They will look to play the ball. From what we’ve heard, that’s in their DNA.
“We can try and imagine what they are going to bring, but again we will assess on game day and make the plans and solutions if need be.”
*Sunday will also see a repeat of last season’s final between Union Bordeaux Begles and Northampton Saints.
There will also be a mouthwatering encounter between Saracens and Stade Toulousain to finish off the weekend’s action.
See below for Saturday and Sunday’s teams and predictions!
Saturday, January 10:
Bulls v Bristol Bears
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 15.00 SAST; 13.00 UK & IRE; 14.00 CET)
Prediction
Rugby365: Bulls by 11 points.
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Sergeal Petersen.
Bristol: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Bill Mata, 7 Fitz Harding (captain), 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Joe Batley, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 George Kloska, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1. Max Lahiff.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Benjamin Grondona, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Matias Moroni.
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Jeremy Rozier (France), Benjamin Hernandez (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (Fra)
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Glasgow Warriors
(Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont – Kick-off: 16.15 CET; 15.15 UK & IRE; 17.15 SAST)
Prediction
Rugby365: Glasgow by three points.
Teams:
Clermont: 15 Axel Guillaud, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Alifereti Loaloa, 12 George Moala, 11 Yerim Fall, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Lucas Zamora, 8 Selevasio Tolofua, 7 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 6 Killian Tixeront (captain), 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Thibaud Lanen, 3 Giorgi Dzmanashvili, 2 Barnabe Massa, 1 Sacha Lotrian.
Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam, 17 Etienne Falgoux, 18 Cristian Ojovan, 19 Leo Michaux Vargas, 20 Pio Muarua, 21 Niek Doornenbal, 22 Irae Simone, 23 Timeo Frier.
Glasgow: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Matt Fagerson, 6 Euan Ferrie, 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 Ally Miller, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Ben Afshar.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Joe James (England), Jamie Leahy (England)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
Leinster v Stade Rochelais
(Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.30 UK & IRE; 18.30 CET; 19.30 SAST)
Prediction
Rugby365: Leinster by six points.
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Ciaran Frawley, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Joshua Kenny, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Jack Conan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tom Clarkson, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Paddy McCarthy.
Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Jerry Cahir, 18 Andrew Sparrow, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Andrew Osborne.
LaRochelle: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Jules Favre, 12 Simeli Daunivucu, 11 Davit Niniashvili, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Grégory Alldritt (captain), 7 Levani Botia, 6 Oscar Jegou, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Charles Kante Samba, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Reda Wardi.
Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq, 17 Louis Penverne, 18 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Kirill Fraindt, 21 Thomas Berjon, 22 Antoine Hastoy, 23 Nathan Bollengier.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Adam Leal (England), John Meredith (England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
Sale Sharks v Sharks
(CorpAcq Stadium, Manchester – Kick-off: 17.30 UK & IRE; 19.30 SAST; 18.30 CET)
Prediction
Rugby365: Sale by 20 points.
Teams:
Sale: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Obi Ene, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Dugdale, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 4 Ben Bamber, 3 James Harper, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 1 Bevan Rodd.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 Willgriff John, 19 Tom Burrow, 20 Hyron Andrews, 21 Dom Hanson, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Gurshwin Wehr.
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 Le Roux Malan, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Tinotenda Mavesere, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Marnus Potgieter.
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Ben Connor (Wales)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
Scarlets v Section Paloise
(Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli – Kick-off: 20.00 UK & IRE; 21.00 CET; 22.00 SAST)
Prediction
Rugby365: Section Paloise by seven points.
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Archie Hughes, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Josh Macleod (captain), 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Jake Ball, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
Pau: 15 Theo Attissogbe, 14 Gregoire Arfeuil, 13 Nathan Decron, 12 Quentin Valentino, 11 Toshi Butlin, 10 Axel Desperes, 9 Thibault Daubagna (captain), 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 7 Reece Hewat, 6 Sacha Zegueur, 5 Mickael Capelli, 4 Thomas Jolmes, 3 Jon Zabala Arrieta, 2 Youri Delhommel, 1 Alexandre Etchebehere.
Replacements: 16 Lucas Rey, 17 Remi Seneca, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Brent Liufau, 20 Xander Iosefo, 21 Paulo Pelesasa, 22 Dan Robson, 23 Clément Mondinat.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ian Kenny (Scotland), Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (Scotland)
Leicester Tigers v Aviron Bayonnais
(Welford Road, Leicester – Kick-off: 20.00 UK & IRE; 21.00 CET; 22.00 SAST)
Prediction
Rugby365: Leicester by nine points.
Teams:
Leicester: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Will Wand, 12 Orlando Bailey, 11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Olly Cracknell, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 James Thompson, 5 Ollie Chessum (captain), 4 Cameron Henderson, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Charlie Clare, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Joaquin Moro, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Joseph Woodward, 23 George Pearson.
Bayonne: 15 Tom Spring, 14 Gabriel Lapegue, 13 Guillaume Martocq, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Victor Hannoun, 10 Pyrénées Boyle-Tiatia, 9 Baptiste Tilloles, 8 Manex Ariceta, 7 Raphael Marchesin, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 4 Arthur Iturria, 3 Pascal Cotet, 2 Lucas Martin, 1 Ignacio Calles.
Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Emosi Tumania, 18 Junior Tagi, 19 Ewan Johnson, 20 Noa Traversier, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jonah Thompson, 23 Bastien Rasal.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Jonny MacKenzie (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Sunday, January 11:
Harlequins v Stormers
(Twickenham Stoop, London – Kick-off: 13.00 UK & IRE; 15.00 SAST; 14.00 CET)
Prediction
Rugby365: Harlequins by five points.
Teams:
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 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizábal, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Simon Kerrod.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Will Hobson, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Elliot Williams, 20 Zach Carr, 21 Tom Lawday, 22 Max Green, 23 Jarrod Evans.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Damian Willemse (captain), 11 Luke Burger, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Marcel Theunissen, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Louw Nel, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Alex Groves, 20 Wandile Mlaba, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Clinton Swart, 23 Mfundo Ndhlovu.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Shota Tevzadze (Georgia), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
RC Toulon v Munster
(Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon – Kick-off: 14.00 CET; 13.00 UK & IRE; 15.00 SAST)
Prediction
Rugby365: Toulon by 10 points.
Teams:
Toulon: 15 Marius Domon, 14 Gaël Drean, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Jérémy Sinzelle, 11 Mathis Ferte, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Ben White, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Esteban Abadie, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 5 David Ribbans, 4 Charles Ollivon (captain), 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Toevalu, 17 Leo Ametlla, 18 Dany Priso, 19 Brian Alainu’uese, 20 Corentin Mezou, 21 Jules Coulon, 22 Paolo Garbisi, 23 Setariki Tuicuvu.
Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 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 Edwin Edogbo, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Michael Milne, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Dan Kelly.
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: George Selwood (England), Simon Harding (England)
TMO: Hamish Smales (England)
Union Bordeaux Begles v Northampton Saints
(Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux – Kick-off: 16.15 CET; 15.15 UK & IRE; 17.15 SAST)
Prediction
Rugby365: Bordeaux by four points.
Teams:
Bordeaux: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 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 Cyril Cazeaux, 4 Adam Coleman, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Maxime Lamothe (captain), 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Boris Palu, 20 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Arthur Retiere, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Northampton: 15 George Hendy, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Edoardo Todaro, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Henry Pollock, 7 Tom Pearson, 6 Callum Chick (captain), 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 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Ed Prowse, 20 Chunya Munga, 21 Sam Graham, 22 Archie McParland, 23 James Ramm.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland), Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Saracens v Stade Toulousain
(StoneX Stadium, London – Kick-off: 17.30 UK & IRE; 18.30 CET; 19.30 SAST)
Prediction
Rugby365: Stade Toulousain by six points.
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Noah Caluori, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Tom Willis, 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 Ben Earl, 21 Charlie Bracken, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Max Malins.
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Dimitri Delibes, 13 Paul Costes, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 Jack Willis, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 David Ainu’u.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Benjamin Bertrand, 18 Paul Mallez, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Efrain Elias, 21 Leo Banos, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Lucas Vigneres.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Main photo credit: @BlueBullsRugby
