Euro Cup: Irish pressure-pot
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Ireland's trio of former winners face a make-or-break weekend when the fourth round of European Champions Cup matches get underway.
Perhaps most precariously placed are 2006 and 2008 champions Munster who were turned over 16-9 at home to 2013 finalists Clermont last weekend.
Ahead of their return trip to the Auvergne on Sunday coach Anthony Foley has warned his side they need to step things up in the combat zone.
"We lost the physical battle," he admitted about their first ever defeat to a French side at Thomond Park.
"But I think we can turn it around. We're not going to throw in any towel. We'll give it our best shot and make sure we stay fighting."
A defeat in Pool One, which for many is the toughest including Saracens and Sale, would leave Munster with an uphill battle to qualify for the knock-out rounds as they still have to travel to London and play last season's finalists Saracens in their final group game.
What's more, Clermont's Marcel Michelin stadium has been a fortress for the Vulcans where they went unbeaten for four and a half years and 77 matches until Castres defeated them there in the French Top 14 play-offs in May.
The shock to Clermont's system lasted until the beginning of this campaign when they lost their second home match to Montpellier, but since then normal service has resumed.
"It's an unbelievably hard place to go. I've played there a couple of times. The crowd will be in behind them. Similar to what you expect when you come here [Thomand Park] as an away side," added Foley.
The second Irish province in deep trouble are 1999 champions Ulster, who lost their first two matches before beating Scarlets 24-9 last Saturday.
They travel to Llanelli on Sunday knowing they will quite possibly need to win all their remaining matches to qualify, and that includes a trip to reigning double champions Toulon.
While few would expect Ulster to prevail, even if they can win in Wales, Ireland's hopes for success in the competition this season may rest with Leinster.
But they will entertain Harlequins, who beat them 24-18 at the Twickenham Stoop last weekend, at Lansdowne Road on Saturday knowing it has been an unhappy hunting ground for them when leaving their regular RDS Arena home for the increased capacity at the national stadium in Dublin.
"There has been an acknowledgement for the players this week that the last two games Leinster have played in the Aviva (Lansdowne Road), we've lost both of them," said flyhalf Ian Madigan.
Leinster lost to Northampton there last season while Clermont came away victorious the year before.
The three-time champions have another problem – scoring tries.
They have not managed one in their last two games but Madigan insists they have not been far away.
"We've been one ruck or one pass away from scoring a try. When we get the simple things right we can put together a good performance," he added.
In fairness, a Leinster victory would put them top of Pool Two where they trail Quins by three points.
But anything less would mean them likely needing a win from a tricky trip to Wasps, who are on a charge after their bonus point victory at Castres, in order to qualify.
Things look far more rosy for French giants Toulon and Toulouse.
The champions may have lost at Leicester on Sunday but they remain top of Pool Three and host the Tigers on Saturday.
Record four-time winners Toulouse can consolidate their lead at the top of Pool Four if they get a positive result away to Glasgow, whom they beat at home last weekend.
Northampton have come storming back since losing their opening group match at Racing-Metro with two successive bonus point wins.
They will expect another at home to Pool Five whipping-boys Treviso.
Racing, who remain unbeaten, can also improve their knock-out stage chances if they beat Ospreys at home.
The action begins with Bath hosting Montpellier on Friday night.
The English side need maximum points to stay in the Pool Four running and will be favourites to do so as their French opponents are on a run of six successive defeats placing great pressure on their head coach Fabien Galthie.
All of the weekend's match details:
Friday, December 12
Bath v Montpellier
The Recreation Gorund – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT
Teams:
Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Sam Burgess, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Dominic Day 3 David Wilson, 2 Ross Batty, 1 Paul James (captain).
Replacements 16 Rob Webber, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Stuart Hooper, 20 David Sisi, 21 Micky Young, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Horacio Agulla.
Montpellier: 15 Pierre Berard 14 Yohann Artru, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Viriviri Nasagavesi 10 Enzo Selponi, 9 Jonathan Pelissie 8 Alex Tulou 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo (captain), 5 Thibaut Privat, 4 Robins Tchale Watchou, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Charles Geli, 1 Na'ama Leleimalefaga.
Replacements: 16 Mickael Ivaldi, 17 Yvan Watremez, 18 David Attoub, 19 Tom Donnelly, 20 Alexandre Bias, 21 Benoit Paillaugue, 22 Rene Ranger, 23 Benoit Sicart.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Stefano Pennè (Italy), Elia Rizzo (Italy)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Saturday, December 13
Glaswgow Warriors v Toulouse
Scotstoun Stadium – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT
Teams:
Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Josh Strauss (captain) 7 Robert Harley, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Euan Murray, 19 Leone Nakarawa, 20 Niko Matawalu, 21 Duncan Weir, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Sean Lamont.
Toulouse: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Yann David, 12 Gaël Fickou, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Sébastien Bézy, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Yannick Nyanga (captain), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Joe Tekori, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Kisi Pulu, 19 Romain Millo-chluski, 20 Gregory Lamboley, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Vicent Clerc, 23 Alexis Palisson.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)
Northampton Saints v Treviso
Franklin's Gardens – Kick-off: 15.15; 15.15 GMT
Teams:
Northampton: 15 James Wilson, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Tom Stephenson, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Phil Dowson, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Sam Dickinson, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Dylan Hartley (captain), 1 Ethan Waller.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Christian Day, 20 Samu Manoa, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Luther Burrell, 23 Ben Foden.
Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward; 14 Simone Ragusi, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Mathew Henry Luamanu, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Meyer Swanepoel, 5 Marco Fuser, 4 Antonio Pavanello (captain), 3 Matteo Muccignat, 2 Albert Alfred Anae, 1 Matteo Zanusso.
Replacements: 16 Amar Kudin, 17 Josè Francisco Novak, 18 Romulo Acosta, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Marco Lazzaroni, 21 Simone Favaro, 22 Ruggero Trevisan, 23 James Ambrosini.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Patrick Pechambert (France), Jean-Luc Rebollal (France)
TMO: Jean-Marie Piraveau (France)
Toulon v Leicester Tigers
Stade Mayol – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT
Teams:
Toulon: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Delon Armitage, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Chris Masoe (captain) 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Levan Chilachava, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Alexandre Menini.
Replacements:16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Carl Hayman, 19 Mamuka Gorgodze, 20 James O'Connor, 21 Jocelino Suta, 22 Michael Claassens, 23 Romain Taofifenua.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Matthew Tait, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Ben Youngs (captain), 8 Robert Barbieri 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements:16 Tom Youngs, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Sebastian De Chaves, 20 Jordan Crane, 21 Tom Croft, 22 Sam Harrison, 23 Freddie Burns.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Mark Connolly (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Saracens v Sale Sharks
Alianz Stadium – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 David Strettle, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (captain), 4 George Kruis, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 James Johnston, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Ben Ransom.
Sale: 15 Michael Haley, 14 Tom Brady, 13 Will Addison, 12 Mark Jennings, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Nick MacLeod, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Josh Beaumont, 7 Dan Braid (captain), 6 Mark Easter, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Cameron Neild, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 James Flynn, 19 Jon Mills, 20 Andrew Hughes, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Andy Forsyth.
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Salem Attalah (France), Thomas Charabas (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Racing Metro v Ospreys
Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir – Kick-off: 18.15; 17.15 GMT
Teams:
Racing Metro: 15 Brice Dulin; 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Teddy Thomas; 10 Johannes Goosen, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Antonie Claassen 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Francois van der Merwe, 4 Juandre Kruger, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (captain), 1 Julien Brugnaut.
Replacements: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Camille Gerondeau, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Yoan Audrin, 23 Benjamin Dambielle.
Ospreys: 15 Daniel Evans; 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker; 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Tyler Ardron 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 James King, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Marc Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Dan Suter, 19 Olly Cracknell, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Sam Davies , 23 Andrew Bishop.
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: Dean Richards (England), Robin Goodliffe (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)
Leinster v Harlequins
Aviva Stadium – Kick-off: 19.45;19.45 GMT
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Zane Kirchner, 13 Luke Fitzgerald, 12 Ian Madigan, 11 Darragh Fanning, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip (captain), 7 Dominic Ryan, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Mike McCarthy, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Mick McGrath.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 George Lowe, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Jack Clifford, 6 Luke Wallace, 5 George Robson, 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 Will Collier, 2 Dave Ward, 1 Joe Marler (captain).
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Sam Twomey, 20 Joe Trayfoot, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Tom Casson, 23 Ross Chisholm.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Christophe Berdos (France), Stéphane Boyer (France)
TMO: Eric Gonthier (France)
Sunday, December 14
London Wasps v Castres
Ricoh Areana – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT
Teams:
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Charlie Davies, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 James Haskell (captain), 6 Ashley Johnson, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Edd Shervington, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Chris Bell.
Castres: 15 Julien Dumora, 14 Max Evans, 13 Thomas Combezou, 12 Remi Lamerat, 11 Remi Grosso, 10 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 9 Cedric Garcia, 8 Jannie Bornman, 7 Yannick Caballero (captain), 6 Ibrahim Diarra, 5 Benjamin Desroche, 4 Piula Faasalele, 3 Yohan Montès, 2 Marc-Antoine Rallier, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau.
Replacements: 16 Brice Mach, 17 Florian Houerie, 18 Paea Faanunu, 19 William Whetton, 20 Mathieu Babillot, 21 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 22 Geoffrey Palis, 23 Antoine Dupont.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Eddie Hogan-O'Connell (Ireland), Mark Patton (Ireland)
TMO: Alan Rogan (Ireland)
Clermont Auvergne v Munster
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT
Teams:
Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Damien Chouly (captain), 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Clément Ric, 19 Julien Pierre, 20 Julien Bardy, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic , 22 Brock James, 23 Benson Stanley.
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony (captain), 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Dave Foley, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Kevin O'Byrne, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Denis Hurley, 23 Johne Murphy.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Neil Hennessy (Wales), Sean Brickell (Wales)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Scarlets v Ulster
Parc y Scarlets – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT
Teams:
Scarlets: TBC
Ulster: TBC
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Tom Foley (England), Roy Maybank (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
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