Preview: European Cup, Round One
CHAMPIONS CUP: Racing 92’s New Zealand lock Dominic Bird says he is cautious of title holders Saracens’ quality, despite the English side sending a weakened outfit to Paris for their tournament opener this weekend.
Sunday’s visitors to the French capital have been given a 35-point deduction and fined more than £5 million (US$6.42 million) for breaching the Premiership’s salary cap rules, pending an appeal, and coach Mark McCall is set to prioritise securing top-flight status over European success.
“I have no doubt it will be a very good second team. They had a little bit of stuff up and that’s their problem,” Bird told AFP on Tuesday.
“All I care about is that we will come up against one of the best sides, if not the best side in Europe this weekend and I’m excited about that challenge.”
“Off-field stuff, that’s their problem and how they deal with it. It doesn’t make any difference to me. I know they are still going to come and play,” the two-time All Black added.
McCall’s defending league and European champions have won three from their opening four games in the Premiership this season despite the absence of squad members such as England World Cup runners-up Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola.
Racing coach Laurent Travers said any issues to do with financial wrongdoings will have little impact on Sunday’s proceedings against the three-time European champions.
“If they have problems off the field I know they don’t have any on the field. Unfortunately we’re going to face them on the field,” he said.
“So from that point of view we’re expecting something very difficult. We’re far from being favourites,” he added.
McCall said he was unsure how many of his World Cup absentees would feature against the 2018 runners-up, who have only three wins from their opening nine matches in the Top 14, as well as against Ospreys next week.
“They’ve been away from the club for five months, they’re not robots. We were going to weigh up whether they were in the right place physically and emotionally to be able to contribute these first two games,” McCall said.
“We’re going to expose some younger players to European rugby over the course of the season and that’s going to accelerate their development,” he added.
Elsewhere this weekend, French champions Toulouse travel to Gloucester and two former winners meet as Bath host Ulster.
We look at all the Round One matches!
Friday, November 15
Gloucester v Toulouse
(Kingsholm Stadium – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
Gloucester has won their opening game in five of their last six Champions Cup campaigns.
However, the one defeat in that run came at the hands of Toulouse in 2011/12.
Toulouse has lost just two of their last 11 pool stage games in the Champions Cup, although both defeats in that run came away from home, against Wasps in 2016/17 and at Leinster last season.
Gloucester has won each of their last six home games against Top 14 opposition in the Champions Cup, their last such defeat coming in 2006/07 against Agen.
Toulouse has won each of their last two away games against Premiership opposition, but they’ve never managed to win three consecutive away games against English clubs in the Champions Cup.
Only Saracens (95 percent) recorded a better line out success rate in the Champions Cup last season than Toulouse (92 percent), while Gloucester recorded the lowest rate (75 percent).
Teams:
Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Ben Morgan (captain), 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin.
Replacements: 16 Corné Fourie, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Jake Polledri, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Matt Banahan.
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Sofiane Guitoune, 12 Romain Ntamack, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Sébastien Bézy, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Joe Tekori, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Julien Marchand (captain), 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Clément Castets, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Richie Gray, 20 Selevasio Tolofua, 21 Alban Placines, 22 Pierre Pages, 23 Lucas Tauzin.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)
TMO: Ian Davies (Wales)
Saturday, November 16
Bath v Ulster
(Recreation Ground – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT)
Bath have lost each of their four matches against Ulster in the Champions Cup. Stade Français Paris are the only other side Bath have faced in the tournament without at least one win.
Ulster has won their opening match in eight of their last 10 Champions Cup campaigns, although they suffered defeat the last time they started their season away from home (v Bordeaux-Bègles 2016/17).
Ulster have won five of their last six clashes with Premiership opposition in the Champions Cup, with their two most recent victories in that run both coming despite trailing at half time.
Ulster has won each of their last four pool games in the Champions Cup – their best such run since winning eight in a row across the 2012/13 and 2013/14 campaigns.
Eleven of Bath’s last 15 home games in the pool stage of the Champions Cup have seen the defeated side come away with a losing bonus point.
Bath won 8.3 turnovers per game on average in the Champions Cup last season, more than any other side. Individually, only Tadhg Beirne (15) of Munster won more than Bath’s Francois Louw (12).
Ulster averaged 181 tackles per game last season, the most of any side
Teams:
Bath: 15 Freddie Burns, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Charlie Ewels (captain), 4 Josh McNally, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Max Wright, 23 Gabe Hamer-Webb
Ulster: 15 Will Addison, 14 Rob Lyttle, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Matt Rea, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Marty Moore, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Adam McBurney, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Alan O’Connor, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 David Shanahan, 22 Angus Curtis, 23 Louis Ludik
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Manuel Bottino (Italy), Mateo Liperini (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Pennè (Italy)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbodOpQdCtw
Glasgow v Sale
(Scotstoun Stadium – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT)
These two sides have faced each other twice previously back in 2002/03 with both home sides winning in their two pool stage meetings.
Glasgow has won eight of their last 10 home games against Premiership opposition in the Champions Cup, although one of them came against eventual champions Saracens last season.
Sale will be back in the Champions Cup for the first time since the 2016/17 season.
Adam Hastings played more minutes than any other Glasgow player in the Champions Cup last season and finished with 61 points.
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Tommy Seymour, 14 Ratu Tagive, 13 Nick Grigg, 12 Samuel Johnson, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Callum Gibbins (captain), 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Robert Harley, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Alex Allan, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 Ali Price, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Kyle Steyn
Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Cameron Redpath, 12 Luke James, 11 Byron McGuigan, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 James Phillips, 4 Bryn Evans (captain), 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Valery Morozov, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Matthew Postlewhaite, 20 Jono Ross, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Chris Ashton
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Assistant referees: Adrien Descottes (France), Cédric Marchat (France)
TMO: Patrick Dellac (France)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL_phT_CaGo
La Rochelle v Exeter
(Stade Marcel Deflandre – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
La Rochelle and Exeter have never met in the Champions Cup but did clash in the 2014/15 Challenge Cup, with Exeter winning both matches by over 20 points.
La Rochelle have won six of their last eight games against Premiership opposition including each of their last two in a row, but they have never made it three on the bounce.
Exeter beat more defenders per game (33) than any other side in the Champions Cup, while they also spent the most time in possession on average.
Don Armand played every minute of Exeter’s Champions Cup campaign last season, the only player to do so for the Chiefs.
Teams:
La Rochelle: 15 Jérémy Sinzelle, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Arthur Retiere, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Alexi Bales, 8 Victor Vito (captain), 7 Wiaan Liebenberg, 6 Grégory Alldritt, 5 Mathieu Tanguy, 4 Romain Sazy, 3 Arthur Joly, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Kevin Gourdon, 21 Brock James, 22 Marc Andreu, 23 Kini Murimurivalu
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Alex Cuthbert, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Nic White, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Don Armand, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Jack Nowell
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), David Sutherland (Scotland)
TMO: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faPlKbpSsMk
Leinster v Treviso
(RDS Arena – Kick-off: 15.15; 15.15 GMT)
Leinster have faced Benetton twice in the Champions Cup, beating them on both occasion in the 2004/05 season.
Benetton have never won against Irish opposition in the Champions Cup.
Leinster have lost just two pool games since the beginning of 2016/17, winning all nine of their home matches in that period.
James Ryan made the most tackles (142) of any other player in the Champions Cup last season.
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Dave Kearney, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Joe Tomane, 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (captain), 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Andrew Porter, 2 Rónan Kelleher,1 Cian Healy,
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Scott Fardy, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Rory O’Loughlin
Benetton: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Ignacio Brex, 12 Alberto Sgarbi (cptain), 11 Luca Sperandio, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Abraham Steyn, 6 Giovanni Pettinelli, 5 Dean Budd, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Hame Faiva, 1 Nicola Quaglio,
Replacements: 16 Engjel Makelara, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Marco Lazzaroni, 21 Toa Halafihi, 22 Tito Tebaldi, 23 Tommaso Allan
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini (France), Laurent Cardona (France)
TMO: Éric Briquet-Campin (France)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRE_gWp6NjM
Clermont v Harlequins
(Stade Marcel-Michelin – Kick-off: 18.30; 17.30 GMT)
ASM Clermont Auvergne and Harlequins have met four times previously in the Champions Cup. The Premiership side won the first meeting in 1999, however, Clermont has claimed victory in all three subsequent matches.
Clermont and Harlequins clashed in Europe last season, facing each other in the semifinal of the Challenge Cup with the eventual tournament winners holding off a spirited comeback from Quins to win 32-27.
Clermont have won their opening match in their last three Cup campaigns with each of those victories coming away from home. This
will be the first time since 2012/13 that they have started their campaign at home.
Clermont beat 37 defenders per game on average in the Challenge Cup last season, more than any other side, while they also had the best goal-kicking success rate in the competition, landing 89 percent of their place kicks.
The top four players for defenders beaten in the Challenge Cup last season were all Clermont players (Alivereti Raka 34, Apisai Naqalevu 30, George Moala 29, Peter Betham 26).
Teams:
Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Isaiah Toeava, 12 George Moala, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra (captain), 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Fischer, 6 Peceli Yato, 5 Sitaleki Timani, 4 Paul Jedrasiak, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Etienne Falgoux
Replacements: 16 Mike Tadjer, 17 Loni Uhila, 18 Davit Zirakashvili, 19 Thibault Lanen, 20 Clement Lanen, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Jake McIntyre, 23 Apisai Naqalevu
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 James Lang, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Lawday, 7 Will Evans, 6 Chris Robshaw (captain), 5 Matt Symons, 4 Glen Young, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Tex Cavubati, 20 Renaldo Bothma, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Michele Campagnaro, 23 Ross Chisholm
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Richard Brace (Wales)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svTOvGrkUJ8
Ospreys v Munster
(Liberty Stadium – Kick-off: 17.30; 17.30 GMT)
The Ospreys and Munster have met five times previously in the Champions Cup. The Irish province won the first four with the Ospreys claiming victory in their most recent fixture.
Munster haven’t lost in the opening round of a Champions Cup campaign since 2013/14, winning three times and drawing twice in their opening games since then.
Munster have won 16 of their last 18 Champions Cup clashes with Welsh opposition, although this will be the first time they’ve faced a side from Wales since 2011/12.
The Ospreys averaged the most kicks from hand in the Challenge Cup last season, putting boot to ball 29 times per game, while Munster kicked the most often of any side in the Champions Cup in 2018/19 (25 per game).
Munster’s Tadhg Beirne won the most turnovers (15) of any player in the Champions Cup last season.
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Tom Williams, 10 Luke Price, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Olly Cracknell, 6 Dan Lydiate (captain), 5 Lloyd Ashley, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Rhodri Jones,
Replacements: 16 Ifan Phillips, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Gheorghe Gajion, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Aled Davies, 22 James Hook, 23 Kieran Williams
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Chris Farrell, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O’Donnell, 6 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 5 Billy Holland, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman,
Replacements: 16 Kevin O’Byrne, 17 James Cronin, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Alby Mathewson, 22 Sam Arnold, 23 Dan Goggin
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Ian Tempest (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: Steve Terheege (England)
Sunday, November 17
Connacht v Montpellier
(The Sportsground – Kick-off: 13.00; 13.00 GMT)
Connacht and Montpellier have never met in the Champions Cup, however, they’ve clashed on eight occasions in the Challenge Cup with the Irish province winning six of those encounters.
Connacht has won their opening match in each of their last five European campaigns, four of those victories coming against TOP 14 opposition.
Montpellier have never won in Ireland in European competition, losing each of their eight games by an average margin of 25 points.
Montpellier had the best ruck success rate in the Champions Cup last season, retaining possession from 98 percent of their rucks during their six matches.
Only two players (Sean Cronin, Jacob Stockdale – both 6 tries) scored more tries in the Champions Cup last season than Montpellier’s Henry Immelman (5).
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Jarrad Butler (captain), 6 Colby Fainga’a, 5 Ultan Dillane, 4 Cillian Gallagher, 3 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley,
Replacements: 16 David Heffernan, 17 Matthew Burke, 18 Conor Kenny, 19 Eoghan Masterson, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Stephen Kerins, 22 Tom Daly, 23 John Porch
Montpellier: 15 Anthony Bouthier, 14 Gabriel N’gandebe, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Yvan Reilhac, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Benoit Paillaugue (captain), 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Yacouba Camara, 6 Kelian Galletier, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 3 Mohamed Haouas, 2 Youri Delhommel, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili,
Replacements: 16 Bismarck Du Plessis, 17 Grégory Fichten, 18 Jannie Du Plessis, 19 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 20 Enzo Sanga, 21 Julien Bardy, 22 Henry Immelman, 23 Jacques Du Plessis
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Tom Foley (England), Simon McConnell (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwnXLFoLjvk
Northampton v Lyon
(Franklin’s Gardens – Kick-off: 13.00; 13,00 GMT)
Lyon has met Premiership opposition just twice in the Champions Cup, losing twice to Saracens in the pool stage last season. They won five of their eight games against English opposition in the Challenge Cup, however.
Saints come into Sunday’s fixture having won their last two European home games (both in the Challenge Cup), and they haven’t enjoyed a longer winning sequence at home in Europe since a run of four straight victories in 2014.
Northampton averaged 49 points and 7.2 tries per game in the Challenge Cup last season, more than any other side, averaging the most metres per game in the process (684).
Lyon conceded the most turnovers per game in the Champions Cup last season (18.8) while Saints conceded the most in the Challenge Cup (18.0).
Twenty-eight of Northampton’s 43 tries in the Challenge Cup last season came in the second half of matches, and no side crossed for more second-half tries (level with ASM Clermont Auvergne).
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8Paul Boyle, 7 Jarrad Butler (captain), 6 Colby Fainga’a, 5 Ultan Dillane, 4 Cillian Gallagher, 3 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 David Heffernan, 17 Matthew Burke, 18 Conor Kenny, 19 Eoghan Masterson, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Stephen Kerins, 22 Tom Daly, 23 John Porch.
Montpellier: 15 Anthony Bouthier, 14 Gabriel N’gandebe, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12.Jan Serfontein, 11 Yvan Reilhac, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Benoit Paillaugue (captain), 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Yacouba Camara, 6 Kelian Galletier, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 3 Mohamed Haouas, 2 Youri Delhommel, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck Du Plessis, 17 Grégory Fichten, 18 Jannie Du Plessis, 19 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 20 Enzo Sanga, 21 Julien Bardy, 22 Henry Immelman, 23.Jacques Du Plessis.
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Robert O’Sullivan (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IuRvBdb3dM
Racing 92 v Saracens
(Paris La defence Arena – Kick-off: 16.15; 15.15 GMT)
Saracens won each of their nine matches on their way to lifting the Champions Cup last season, just as they did in 2015/16. Leinster are the only other side to manage the feat (2017/18).
Racing 92 have won 13 of their last 15 home games in the pool stage of the Champions Cup, both defeats in that period coming in 2016/17 against Glasgow Warriors and Munster.
Saracens have won five of their last six Champions Cup games away against Top 14 opposition. They had won just three of 10 such games in the competition before that run.
Racing has lost just one of their last 10 pool games against Premiership opposition in the Champions Cup, although, each of those 10 games has come against either Northampton Saints (4) or Leicester Tigers (6).
Saracens scored five tries after winning a turnover in the Champions Cup last season. No club scored more tries in this fashion (level with Toulouse).
Saracens recorded a 95 percent line-out success rate in the Champions Cup last season, the best of any side, while Racing had the fourth best rate (90 percent).
Teams:
Racing 92: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Henry Chavancy (captain), 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Antonie Claassen, 7 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Boris Palu, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Eddy Ben Arous.
Replacements: 16 Teddy Baubigny, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Ali Oz, 19 Dominic Bird, 20 Yoan Tanga, 21 Teddy Iribaren, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Simon Zebo.
Saracens: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Roti Segun, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Jackson Wray (captain), 7 Ben Earl, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Callum Hunter-Hill, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Rhys Carre.
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Vincent Koch, 19.Joel Kpoku, 20 Sean Reffell, 21 Tom Whiteley,22 22 Damian Willemse, 23 Duncan Taylor.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Stuart Gaffkin (Ireland), Paul Haycock (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Sources: AFP & @ChampionsCup
