Preview: Champions Cup, Round Five
The Welsh region trail Clermont by two points at the top of a tight Pool Two and would take charge with victory in Swansea.
It is four years since a Welsh team has reached the knock-out stages when Cardiff Blues were thumped 34-3 by Leinster in the quarterfinals.
Ospreys last got that far two years before that when they were narrowly edged out 29-28 by Biarritz as Dan Biggar missed a last gasp drop-goal attempt that would have won the game for the Welsh region.
But Steve Tandy's team have a very real opportunity to end a painful run of pool stage misery, although they do face a tough trip to Exeter Chiefs in their final game and the English outfit could also be playing for top spot in the group if they beat Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday.
Ospreys know they have their work cut out against Clermont, beaten finalists in two of the previous three seasons, but fullback Dan Evans says there is belief in the team, despite their Celtic League struggles this season – they sit seventh after losing 22-9 at home to Leinster last weekend.
"They [Clermont] are one of the best teams in Europe and we know they will punish any mistakes we make," said Wales international Evans.
"It's about us putting pressure on them and playing in the right areas. We need to put them under pressure and make them feel uncomfortable.
"We have a point to prove on the performance front after losing to Leinster at home last weekend. But we are buzzing and fully confident.
"It would be massive to get through because this is the biggest tournament in which we play and every pool is so competitive."
Clermont won 34-29 when the teams met in November in France but in the previous five meetings between the sides, the home team has always won.
Top spot in Pool 5 will be up for grabs when champions Toulon host Wasps at the Stade Mayol on Sunday.
Both sides have three wins and one defeat so far but Wasps are two points ahead of the three-time consecutive champions due to bonuses.
They also won convincingly 32-6 when the sides met in Coventry back in November but Toulon eliminated Wasps 32-18 at the quarterfinal stage of last year's competition as Frederic Michalak kicked 22 points.
"Not many people are talking about us going to the home of the European champions and coming home with a win," said Wasps back row forward Guy Thompson.
"But we are always confident in our ability and this team has so much talent and we are finding out how we play as a group.
"We can be at our best when we are underdogs and we are definitely not favourites this weekend."
French champions Stade Francais travel to Munster on Saturday needing a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.
They trail Leicester by four points at the top of Pool Four and with the English side hosting Italian whipping boys Treviso, a bonus point victory that would send the twice previous winners into the knock-out stages is likely.
Stade kept their chances alive as they battled for the entire second half with 14 men to beat Munster 27-7 in Paris last weekend.
The Irish province are out of the competition now but will certainly not lie down for Stade at their imposing Thomond Park home.
Saracens, runners-up in 2014, can secure their quarterfinal berth and top spot in Pool One if they beat Ulster at home on Saturday.
But the Belfast side are the only Irish province still in contention for the knock-out stages and must win or see their hopes taken out of their own hands.
Racing 92 can also ensure their progress from Pool Three when they host Scarlets, the Celtic League leaders who have lost every match in Europe this season and are already eliminated.
Round Five matches!
Friday, January 15
Ospreys v ASM Clermont Auvergne
(Liberty Stadium – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
The teams:
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sam Underhill, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Lloyd Ashley, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Dan Baker, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Owen Watkin.
Clermont: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 David Strettle, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Vito Kolelishvili, 6 Damien Chouly, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Loïc Jacquet, 3 Daniel Kotze, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Raphael Chaume.
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Michael Simutoga, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Camille Gerondeau, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic, 22 Brock James, 23 Albert Vulivuli.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Peter Allan (England)
TMO: Sean Davey (England)
Saturday, January 16
Munster v Stade Francais
(Thomond Park – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT)
Teams:
Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander (captain), 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Billy Holland, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Dave Foley, 3 Mario Sagario, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Kevin O'Byrne, 17 Liam O'Connor, 18 John Ryan, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Jack O'Donoghue, 22 Tomás O'Leary, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Stade Francais: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Waisea Vuidarvuwalu, 13 Jonathan Danty, 12 Paul Williams, 11 Julien Arias, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Jono Ross, 6 Sekou Macalou, 5 Pascal Papé, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Laurent Panis, 1 Zak Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Zurabi Zhvania, 17 Heindrick van der Merwe, 18 Paul Alo Emile, 19 Hugh Pyle, 20 Sylvain Nicolas, 21 Julien Tomas, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Jérémy Sinzelle.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Tom Foley (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Bordeaux-Begles v Exeter Chiefs
(Stade Chaban-Delmas – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)
Teams:
Bordeaux-Bègles: 15 Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 14 Metuisela Talebulamaijaina, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Julien Rey, 11 Blair Connor, 10 Pierre Bernard, 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 8 Loann Goujon, 7 Hugh Chalmers, 6 Louis Madaule, 5 Adam Jaulhac, 4 Jan Andre Marais, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Benat Auzqui, 17 Sébastien Taofifenua, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Cyril Cazeaux, 20 Marco Tauleigne, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Lionel Beauxis, 23 Felix Le Bourhis.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Byron McGuigan, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Max Bodilly, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Will Hooley, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Kai Horstmann (captain), 7 Ben White, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Ollie Atkins, 3 Alex Brown, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Moray Low.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Malton, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Carl Rimmer, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Julian Salvi, 21 Haydn Thomas, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Chrysander Botha.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Saracens v Ulster
(Allianz Park – Kick-off: 15.15; 15.15 GMT)
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Duncan Taylor.
Ulster: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Sean Reidy, 6 Robbie Diack, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Rory Best, 1 Kyle McCall.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Callum Black, 18 Ricky Lutton, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Clive Ross, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Rory Scholes.
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Mathieu Noirot (France)
TMO: Gilles Cogne (France)
Oyonnax v Toulouse
(Stade Charles Mathon – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Teams:
Oyonnax: 15 Quentin Etienne, 14 Silvere Tian, 13 Vincent Martin, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 Uwa Tawalo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Fabien Cibray, 8 Viliami Maafu, 7 Olivier Missoup, 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 5 Fabrice Metz, 4 Geoffrey Fabbri, 3 Antoine Guillamon, 2 Jody Jenneker, 1 Laurent Delboulbès.
Replacements: 16 Jeremie Maurouard, 17 Soane Tonga'uiha, 18 Giorgi Vepkhvadze, 19 Valentin Ursache, 20 Pierrick Gunther, 21 Julien Blanc, 22 Regis Lespinas, 23 Guillaume Bousses.
Toulouse: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Kunatani Kunabuli, 13 Toby Flood, 12 Paul Perez, 11 Timoci Matanavou, 10 Luke McAlister, 9 David Mele, 8 Gillian Galan, 7 Gregory Lamboley, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Joe Tekori, 4 Romain Millo-Chluski, 3 Nemiah Tialata, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Dorian Aldegheri, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Gert Muller, 19 Patricio Albacete, 20 Francois Cros, 21 Christopher Tolofua, 22 Jean-Marc Doussain, 23 Vincent Clerc.
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: Tim Wigglesworth (England), Andrew Pearce (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)
Leinster v Bath
(RDS Arena – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Isa Nacewa (captain), 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Ben Te'o, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 James Tracy, 1 Peter Dooley.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Tom Denton, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Johnny Sexton, 23 Noel Reid.
Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Matt Garvey, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Stuart Hooper (captain), 3 David Wilson, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Max Lahiff.
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 David Denton, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Tom Homer.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Maxime Chalon (France), Jean-Luc Rebollal (France)
TMO: Eric Gonthier (France)
Leicester Tigers v Benetton Treviso
(Welford Road – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
Teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Tommy Bell, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Tom Croft, 6 Mike Fitzgerald, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Dom Barrow, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs (captain), 1 Logovi'i Mulipola.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Marcos Ayerza , 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Laurence Pearce, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Seremaia Bai, 23 Peter Betham.
Benetton Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Samuel Christie, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Simone Ragusi, 10 James Ambrosini, 9 Alberto Lucchese, 8 Robert Barbieri, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Marco Lazzaroni, 5 Jean-François Montauriol, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Salesi Manu, 2 Ornel Gega, 1 Alberto de Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Filippo Filippetto, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Alessandro Zanni, 21 Abraham Jurgens Steyn, 22 Enrico Bacchin, 23 Luke McLean.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Gwyn Morris (Wales)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Sunday, January 17
Racing 92 v Scarlets
(Stade Yves-Du-Manoir – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00)
Teams:
Racing 92: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Louis Dupichot, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Antonie Claassen, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Eddy Ben Arous.
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Julien Brugnaut, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Thibault Dubarry, 20 Chris Masoe, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Henry Chavancy, 23 Johan Goosen.
Scarlets: 15 Mike Collins, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Regan King, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Steven Shingler, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Morgan Allen, 7 Aaron Shingler, 6 Rory Pitman, 5 Maselino Paulino, 4 George Earle, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Phil John.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Tom Price, 20 Tom Phillips, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Steff Hughes.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Ian Tempest (England), Wayne Falla (England)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)
RC Toulon v Wasps
(Stade Félix Mayol – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15)
Teams:
Toulon: 15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Eric Escande, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Jocelino Suta, 3 Levan Chilachava, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Florian Fresia.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Etrillard, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Mamuka Gorgodze, 20 Frederic Michalak, 21 Maxime Mermoz, 22 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 23 Thibault Lassale.
Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Ben Jacobs, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Guy Thompson, 7 George Smith, 6 Sam Jones, 5 James Gaskell, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Edd Shervington, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Rob Miller.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Leighton Hodges (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)
TMO: Jonathan Mason (Wales)
Northampton Saints v Glasgow Warriors
(Franklin's Gardens – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
Teams:
Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Tom Collins, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Lee Dickson (captain), 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Michael Paterson, 20 Jon Fisher, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Harry Mallinder.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Adam Ashe, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Jonny Gray (captain), 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Sila Puafisi, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Gordon Reid.
Replacements: 16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Simone Favaro, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Cyril Lafon (France), Stéphane Boyer (France)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Agence France-Presse
