Preview: European Cup, Round One
Leicester coach Richard Cockerill believes the match is one of the "big fixtures that everyone wants to be involved in".
The Tigers' unbeaten start to the English Premiership ended with a 19-6 defeat by Exeter last weekend.
But former England hooker Cockerill said a home match with Paris-based Stade was just the right match to gee his side up after that setback.
"Friday night under the lights at Welford Road, the Champions Cup, Leicester versus Stade Francais — these are the big fixtures that everyone wants to be involved in," Cockerill said.
"It is going to be a big start for us, kicking the tournament off."
Brendan O'Connor, recently arrived from New Zealand's Hawke's Bay, is set to go straight into Leicester's loose trio, with Argentina prop Marcos Ayerza returning to Tigers duty for the first time since the World Cup.
Meanwhile a multi-national Stade will be captained by Italy skipper Sergio Parisse, with South Africa flyhalf Morne Steyn and former Leicester scrumhalf Julien Dupuy looking to orchestrate the back division.
On Saturday Toulouse will start a new European era without Guy Noves, the former head coach has moved on after 22 years and four European titles to take over as boss of the French national team, with former fullback Ugo Mola assuming control.
It will add some extra intrigue at Allianz Park on Saturday, but Maxime Medard is confident the switch will be seamless as Les Rouge et Noir being their tilt at continental glory.
"The values, fundamentals and ambitions are the same as they have always been. We must be able to mix up our game, we have to make sure we do the basics well and after that we can look to play," he said.
"It's been an easy transition. We have a lot of the same players as last season and we have not changed the Toulouse game plan. We are playing as we have done for a long time. We put the fundamentals in place and build from there."
Toulouse were drawn in the same pool as Saracens two seasons ago, with the French side winning both meetings, including a tense clash at Wembley.
Saracens boss Mark McCall knows just how tough a test the visitors will prove, and the importance of getting off to a good start in the competition.
"The lesson that all the teams have learned really is that you have to pick up every point you can when it is available," he said.
On Sunday Bordeaux-Begles will make their return to the competition, You have to go back to 7 November, 1998, for Bordeaux's last game in the top flight of European club rugby – to a 34-21 pool defeat to Stade Francais in Paris. In those days the club was known as Begles-Bordeaux and was in its second, and final, season in the European Cup.
Final, that is, until director of rugby Raphael Ibanez found a way to raise his side's game to beat Challenge Cup winners Gloucester in the play-off for the final place in the Champions Cup. Their 23-22 victory at Sixways came courtesy of a last gasp drop goal from Pierre Bernard.
Now they are back on the main stage and, having ended their European Cup career against French opposition 17 years ago, they resume in Round One of the Champions Cup with a clash with the mighty Clermont Auvergne.
All of the match details:
Friday, November 13
Leicester Tigers v Stade Francais
(Welford Road – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
Leicester: 15 Mathew Tait (captain), 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Peter Betham, 12 Matt Smith, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Lachlan McCaffrey, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Mike Williams, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Dom Barrow, 20 Jordan Crane, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Seremaia Bai, 23 Telusa Veainu.
Stade Français: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Julien Arias, 13 Paul Williams, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jérémy Sinzelle, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Sylvain Nicolas, 6 Patrick Sio, 5 Pascal Papé, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Adrien Oleon, 2 Laurent Panis, 1 Zak Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Dany Priso, 17 Zurabi Zhvania, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Alexandre Flanquart, 20 Jono Ross, 21 Julien Tomas, 22 Waisea, 23 Josaia Raisuqe.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Olly Hodges (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Saturday, November 14
Oyonnax v Ulster
(Stade Charles Mathon – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)
Oyonnax: 15 Florian Denos (captain), 14 Silvere Tian, 13 Vincent Martin, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Regis Lespinas, 9 Fabien Cibray, 8 Viliami Maafu, 7 Olivier Missoup, 6 Valentin Ursache, 5 Fabrice Metz, 4 George Robson, 3 Marc Clerc, 2 Jody Jenneker, 1 Laurent Delboulbès.
Replacements: 16 Jeremie Maurouard, 17 Soane Tonga'uiha, 18 Antoine Guillamon, 19 Leon Power, 20 Pierrick Gunther, 21 Pedrie Wannenburg, 22 Piri Weepu, 23 Nicky Robinson.
Ulster: 15 Peter Nelson 14, Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Robbie Diack, 5 Franco Van Der Merwe, 4 Dan Tuohy, 3 Ricky Lutton, 2 Rory Best, 1 Kyle McCall.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Callum Black, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 David Shanahan, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Louis Ludik.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Darren Gamage (England), Robin Goodliffe (England)
TMO: Trevor Fisher (England)
Racing Metro v Glasgow Warriors
(Stade Yves du Manoir – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Racing Metro: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Alexandre Dumoulin, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Maxime Machenaud (captain), 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Francois van der Merwe, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Eddy Ben Arous.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Julien Brugnaut, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Thibault Dubarry, 20 Yannick Nyanga, 21 Xavier Chauveau, 22 Benjamin Dambielle, 23 Casey Laulala.
Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray (captain), 4 Leone Nakarawa 3 Sila Puafisi, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Richie Vernon, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Simon Harding (England), Paul Burton (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Munster v Treviso
(Thomand Park – Kick-off: 17.15; 17.15 GMT)
Munster: 15 Andrew Conway, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander (captain), 7 Jack O'Donoghue, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Dave Kilcoyne
Replacements: 16 Duncan Casey, 17 James Cronin, 18 John Ryan, 19 Dave Foley, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Treviso: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Jayden Hayward, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Tommaso Iannone, 10 James Ambrosini, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Abraham Steyn, 7 Alessandro Zanni (captain), 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Jean-François Montauriol, 4 Rudolph Duncan Naude, 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Ornel Gega, 1 Matteo Zanusso
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matteo Muccignat, 18 Filippo Filippetto, 19 Dean Budd, 20 Marco Barbini, 21 Andrea De Marchi, 22 Chris Smylie, 23 Sam Christie.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Tim Wigglesworth (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
Saracens v Toulouse
(Allianz Park – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (captain), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 Maro Itoje, 4 George Kruis, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Alistair Hargreaves, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch.
Toulouse: 15 Maxime Médard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Toby Flood, 11 Timoci Matanavou, 10 Luke McAlister, 9 Sébastien Bézy, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 6 Yacouba Camara, 5 Joe Tekori, 4 Yoann Maestri, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Millo-Chluski, 20 Imanol Harinordoquy, 21 Talalelei Gray, 22 Jean-Marc Doussain, 23 Yann David.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mark Patton (Ireland), Kieran Barry (Ireland)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
Northampton Saints v Scarlets
(Franklin's Gardens – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Lee Dickson (captain), 8 Sam Dickinson, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Christian Day, 4 James Craig, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Matti Williams, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Michael Paterson, 20 Teimana Harrison, 21 Kahn Fotuali’i, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Ahsee Tuala.
Scarlets: 15 Aled Thomas, 14 Michael Tagicakibau, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Steven Shingler, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 John Barclay (captain), 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Maselino Paulino, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Emyr Phillips, 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Phil John, 18 Will Taylor, 19 Tom Price, 20 Lewis Rawlins, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Regan King, 23 Tom Williams.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini (France), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Eric Gonthier (France)
Sunday, November 15
Leinster v Wasps
(RDS Arena – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT)
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa (captain), 14 Zane Kirchner, 13 Fergus McFadden, 12 Noel Reid, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Jordi Murphy, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tadhg Furlong 19 Hayden Triggs, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Ben Jacobs, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 George Smith, 6 Sam Jones, 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Matt Mullan (captain).
Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Sailosi Tagicakibau.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Cyril Lafon (France), Thomas Déjean (France)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Bordeaux-Begles v Clermont Auvergne
(Stade Chaban Delmas – Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)
Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Nans Ducuing, 14 Metuisela Talebula, 13 Sofiane Guitoune, 12 Julien Rey, 11 Blair Connor, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Loann Goujon, 7 Hugh Chalmers, 6 Louis Madaule, 5 Jan Andre Marais (captain), 4 Julien Le Devedec, 3 Patrick Toetu, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux
Replacements: 16 Clement Maynadier, 17 Sébastien Taofifenua, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Adam Jaulhac, 20 Marco Tauleigne, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Romain Lonca, 23 Charles Brousse.
Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 David Strettle, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Damien Chouly (captain), 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Clément Ric, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Thomas Domingo
Replacements: 16 Marthinius Van Der Westhuizen, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Flip Van Der Merwe, 20 Vito Kolelishvili, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic, 22 Brock James, 23 Albert Vulivuli.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Johnathan Peak (Ireland)
TMO: Jude Quinn (Ireland)
Toulon v Bath
(Stade Felix Mayol – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Jonathan Pelissie, 8 Steffon Armitage, 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 6 Juan Smith (captain), 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Levan Chilachava, 2 Anthony Etrillard, 1 Xavier Chiocci.
Replacements: 16 Bastien Soury, 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Mohamed Boughanmi, 19 Duane Vermeulen, 20 Theo Belan, 21 Tom Taylor, 22 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 23 Konstantine Mikautadze.
Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Ollie Devoto, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Francois Louw (captain), 6 Matt Garvey, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Dominic Day, 3 David Wilson, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Nick Auterac.
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Stuart Hooper, 20 Alafoti Faosiliva, 21 Niko Matawalu, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Tom Homer.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Neil Hennessy (Wales), Gwyn Morris (Wales)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Ospreys v Exeter Chiefs
(Liberty Stadium – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Dafydd Howells, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Lloyd Ashley, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Dan Baker, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Ben John.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Jack Nowell, 14 Matt Jess, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sam Hill, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson (captain), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Don Armand, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Alec Hepburn.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Moray Low, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Tom Johnson, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Ian Whitten, 23 Michele Campagnaro.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy), Stefano Roscini (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Pennè (Italy)
