Champions Cup, Round Two - teams and predictions

SATURDAY & SUNDAY PREVIEWS: The Stormers are gearing up for a season-defining outing against a ‘fully loaded’ Stade Rochelais in Cape Town on Saturday.

It will be the home team’s first outing on their new ‘hybrid’ turf in a stadium that had a trial run with the surface at the Cape Town leg of the Sevens World Series last week.

Given the experience and quality of the visitors, the home team will be rank outsiders in this European contest.

Stormers coach John Dobson spoke of the brutality of the two-time defending champions’ game and their ability to drag the opposition into an arm-wrestle and wear them down with a persistent onslaught.

The Stormers coach described the French visitors as the ‘world’s best club team’, adding that the only tougher game is playing La Rochelle away.

“It is one of the biggest teams in terms of the physical size [of the players],” Dobson said.

The one advantage for the home team could be the warm December heat – set to peak at about 27°C at kick-off.

That will assist the Stormers in their endeavour to move the visitors around and avoid getting caught up in an arm wrestle.

Dobson admitted that after the challenging start to their season – in both the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup, with just one win in their last five URC matches to go with last week’s European Cup loss to Leicester Tigers – Saturday could be a defining moment for them.

“If we can get a win over the best club team in the world, it would be a defining moment,” Dobson told @rugby365com.

“I don’t think people appreciate what sort of monster we are playing and how good they are,” he said of the French giants.

“It would be a massive turnaround to our season if we can beat them.”

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Impi yamaStormer feat. @UbumboLegends 🎶

We can’t wait to have you doing your thing in the stands on Saturday for our first game at DHL Stadium this season.#iamastormer #dhldelivers #gwijo pic.twitter.com/sH4EzyVtU0

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 13, 2023

He said the next three matches – La Rochelle on Saturday, along with home URC games against the Bulls and Sharks – are vital to making the season a success.

“Two out of three [wins] will be par for us,” the coach said, adding: “One out of three will mean we are in trouble and nought out of three will be a disaster.”

And it will require a special effort and great tactics to get one of those wins against La Rochelle.

Given the brute strength of the La Rochelle forwards and how they have managed to overpower even the Irish international-laden Leinster, Dobson said that getting into an arm-wrestle with the French outfit is the worst possible tactic for his team.

“If we go toe-to-toe with them in terms of physicality, we would be in trouble,” he told @rugby365com, adding: “If we are clever – even if we have to exhaust ourselves – we can move them around and tire them.

“I don’t want to sound defeatist about our pack, but an arm wrestle is not the way to beat these guys.”

In the Stade Rochelais line-up includes a familiar face for Stormers fans, as speedsters Dillyn Leyds used to play for the South African team.

“Leggit [Leyds] has got a massive Stormers story – a legend of the franchise,” prop Neethling Fouche said.

“We’re delighted to welcome him back.

“We’ve been watching their careers develop overseas.

“It’s nice getting to see a familiar face on the other side.

“But you want to get one up on them [La Rochelle], because then the beers just taste sweeter afterwards!”

J2 🗺 || Cape Town, South Africa.

En pleine préparation pour ce nouveau défi ! 🇿🇦#STOvSR | #ChampionsCup | #FievreSR pic.twitter.com/jJuUekc6Ez

— Stade Rochelais (@staderochelais) December 14, 2023

* The leading South African team the Bulls, are hoping to follow up their impressive Round One win over three-time champions Saracens last week with a ‘massive’ away win in France.

The Bulls travel to Matmut Stadium de Gerland where they will tackle Lyon in Round Two.

However, Director of Rugby Jake White is keeping most of his powder dry for next week’s big North-South URC derby against the Stormers in Cape Town.

Even though the team will be captained by Springbok Marcell Coetzee and includes World Cup winner Marco van Staden, it is essentially a second-string selection.

Coetzee has made it clear that the Bulls are eager to build on their convincing Round One victory over Saracens when they take on the French club on Saturday.

The 32-year-old flank, Coetzee, who returned to action off the bench last weekend after a three-game ban, knows the value of away victories in a competitive Pool One.

But he is fully aware that it will be a difficult task, as last season the Bulls suffered a humbling 7-31 loss at Lyon after squeezing home 42-36 at Loftus Versfeld over the French side earlier in the season.

Even though Lyon is currently struggling to improve their win ratio – they lost (34-36) to a last-minute Bristol Bears drop-goal last week – the French opposition do pose a major threat.

“We want to go overseas, we want to fire some shots, and we know what the results are if you win away from home,” Coetzee said.

“It helps you in the long term when it comes to the playoffs,” he added.

“The motivation will be there, but our biggest challenge with the group that we’re taking is to be accurate, execute what we have to do, and not let other factors affect how we want to implement this game.

“A lot of the guys who were there last time are going back now and know what to expect.

“I think it will be a very physical battle, but we have a very good plan on how we will play against them.”

The Bulls are certainly in fine form, having won six of their eight matches this season to rise to third in the URC, whereas Lyon have struggled in the Top 14 and are occupying 12th place after only three wins in nine matches.

“We are currently happy with how we are playing,” Coetzee said.

“It’s always the case that you have to get rid of the rust in the first few games.

“But what also helps is that this season we implemented a new system with which we want to get everyone involved on the field.

“The pace and the standards are greatly increased in the process and everyone knows where we stand.

“We want to be in a position where, if we lose players, there simply have to be other guys who can take their places. It has started to work very well for us lately.”

* Leinster assistant coach Andrew Goodman has warned Sale Sharks that they will be aiming to better their stunning victory at defending champions Stade Rochelais in last weekend’s opener when they welcome the Premiership leaders on Saturday.

Both are on four points in Pool Four, one behind leaders Leicester Tigers, after Sale Sharks also began their campaign with a victory against French opposition, 28-5 at home to Stade Français Paris.

“We need to keep getting better every week,” Goodman told RTÉ Sport.

“You can’t take your foot off the throat at all in this competition or you’ll get stung.

“We’ve had a good day around making a plan, and working for Sale, so hopefully it’ll be a little drier and a little less windy than what we had on Sunday.

“It’s a game we’re excited about playing – top of the Premiership, finalists last year and have a real clear DNA around how they play.

“They’re strong up front and kick well obviously. [George] Ford’s a class operator in terms of the way he pulls the strings.

“I’ve enjoyed watching them play over the last couple of years.

“They have got some nice strike-plays they use, some dangerous backs, and it’s been good to preview them as an opposition rather than watching them from afar in the last couple of years. I’m excited about going up against them at home.”

* Leicester Tigers’ preparations for Sunday’s Round Two tie at Stade Français Paris have been hit by the news that they will be without lock Cameron Henderson for the rest of the season.

The 23-year-old Scottish international will require surgery on the knee injury he suffered in the English side’s 35-26 home victory over Stormers in Round One last weekend.

All the Saturday and Sunday teams and predictions follow below…

Saturday, December 16

Stormers v Stade Rochelais
(Cape Town Stadium – Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 French time; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: La Rochelle by five points

Teams

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Courtnall Skosan.

La Rochelle: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Jules Favre, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Yoan Tanga, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 1 Reda Wardi.
Replacements: 16 Sacha Idoumi, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Remi Picquette, 21 Judicael Cancoriet, 22 Teddy Iribaren, 23 Hugo Reus.

Referee: Christophe Ridley (France)
Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Simon Harding (England)
TMO: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Saracens v Connacht
(Barnet Copthall Stadium, London – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Saracens by 18 points

Teams

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Lucio Cinti, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Olly Hartley, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Andy Christie, 6 Juan-Martin Gonzalez, 5 Theo McFarland, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Alec Clarey, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Tom West, 18 Logovi’i Mulipola, 19 Hugh Tizard, 20 Toby Knight, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Tom Parton, 23 Alex Lewington.

Connacht: 15 John Porch, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Jack Carty (captain), 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Gavin Thornbury, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Jak Aungier, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Jordan Duggan.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Diarmuid Kilgallen.

Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees: Jeremy Rozier (France), Thomas Chereque (France)
TMO: Patrick Dellac (France)

Bordeaux v Bristol Bears
(Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux – Kick-off: 16.15; 15:15 UK time & GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bordeaux by six points

Teams

Bordeaux: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Yoram Moefana, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Mahamadou Diaby, 6 Bastien Vergnes, 5 Thomas Jolmes, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot..
Replacements: 16 Clément Maynadier, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Marko Gazzotti, 21 Antoine Miquel, 22 Théo Nanette, 23 Pablo Uberti.

Bristol: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 James Williams, 11 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10 Sam Worsley, 9 Sam Wolstenholme, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Jake Heenan (captain), 6 Joe Owen, 5 Josh Caulfield, 4 Ed Holmes, 3 George Kloska, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Max Lahiff.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 Steven Longwell, 19 James Dun, 20 Paddy Pearce, 21 Oscar Lennon, 22 Joe Jenkins, 22 Jack Bates.

Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland), Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Lyon v Bulls
(Matmut Stadium de Gerland, Lyon – Kick-off: 18.30; 19.30 SA time; 17.30 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bulls by three points

Teams

Lyon: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Ethan Dumortier, 13 Alfred Parisien, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Pierre-Samuel Pacheco, 6 Marvin Okuya, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Killian Geraci, 3 Feao Fotuaika, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Sébastien Taofifenua.
Replacements: 16 Yanis Charcosset, 17 Jérôme Rey, 18 Valentin Simutoga, 19 Félix Lambey, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Baptiste Couilloud, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Thibaut Regard.

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Henry Immelman, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Izak Burger, 8 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Merwe Olivier, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Sebastian de Klerk.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Jonny Perriam (Scotland), Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

Leinster v Sale Sharks
(RDS Arena, Dublin – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Leinster by 12 points

Teams

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Garry Ringrose (co-captain), 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Ciarán Frawley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan (co-captain), 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Charlie Ngatai.

Sale Sharks: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Arron Reed, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Raffi Quirke, 8 Rouban Birch, 7 Sam Dugdale, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Josh Beaumont, 4 Ben Bamber, 3 James Harper, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Tumy Onasanya, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Joe Carpenter.

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Baptiste Nuchy (France), Kevin Bralley (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (France)

Cardiff v Bath
(Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 20.00; 20.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bath by five points

Teams

Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Mason Grady, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Mackenzie Martin, 7 Lucas de la Rua, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Rory Thornton, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Corey Domachowski.
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Willis Halaholo, 23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb.

Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 7 Chris Cloete, 6 Miles Reid, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Elliott Stooke, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Jaco Coetzee.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Rob McDowell (Scotland)
TMO: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)

Ulster v Racing 92
(Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast – Kick-off: 20,00; 20.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Ulster by three points

Teams

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Matty Rea, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Iain Henderson (captain), 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Harry Sheridan, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Stewart Moore.

Racing 92: 15 Max Spring, 14 Henry Arundell, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Antoine Gibert, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Cameron Woki, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Janick Tarrit, 1 Hassane Kolingar.
Replacements: 16 Eddy Ben Arous, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Gia Kharaishvili, 19 Fabien Sanconnie, 20 Ibrahim Diallo, 21 Maxime Baudonne, 22 Tristan Tedder, 23 Inia Tabuavou.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Joe James (England), Jonathan Healy (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)

Sunday, December 17

Exeter Chiefs v Munster
(Sandy Park, Exeter – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Chiefs by six points

Teams

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns, 8 Greg Fisilau, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Lewis Pearson, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 4 Rusi Tuima, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Jack Dunne, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Rory O’Loughlin.

Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Seán O’Brien, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Gavin Coombes, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman.
Replacements: 16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Brian Gleeson, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Ben O’Connor.

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Adrien Marbot (France), Evan Urruzmendi (France)
TMO: Cedric Marchat (France)

Harlequins v Toulouse
(Twickenham Stoop, London – Kick-off: 15.15; 16,15 French time; 15.15 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Toulouse by three points

Teams

Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Nick David, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Will Porter, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Will Evans, 6 James Chisholm, 5 Dino Lamb, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Will Collier, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Irne Herbst, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Danny Care, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Oscar Beard.

Toulouse: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Dimitri Delibes, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 David Ainuʻu, 19 Piula Fa’asalele, 20 Alban Placines, 21 Baptiste Germain, 22 Paul Costes, 23 Santiago Chocobares.

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Joy Neville (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Stade Francais v Leicester Tigers
(Stade Jean Bouin, Paris – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 UK time; 17.30 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Stade Francais by nine points

Teams

Stade Francais: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Kylan Hamdaoui, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Charles Laloi, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Hugo Zabalza, 8 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 7 Romain Briatte, 6 Sekou Macalou, 5 Baptiste Pesenti, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Mickael Ivaldi, 1 Clement Castets.
Replacements: 16 Lucas Peyresblanques, 17 Moses Alo-Emile, 18 Francisco Gomez-Kodela, 19 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 20 Stephane Ahmed, 21 Jules Gimbert, 22 Ryan Chapuis, 23 JJ van der Mescht.

Leicester: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Jamie Shillcock, 9 Tom Whiteley, 8 Kyle Hatherell, 7 Matt Rogerson, 6 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 5 Sam Carter, 4 George Martin, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Archie Vanes, 1 James Cronin.
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobold-Thomas, 17 James Whitcombe, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Harry Simmons.

Referee: Nike Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Saba Abulashvili (Georgia), Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

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* Additional reporting by @ChampionsCup