Preview - ECC Pool Three, round five

Kick-off times are local

BAYONNE v TOULON
Friday January 13, Stade Jean Dauger, 19:00

Bayonne's team shows several changes from that which travelled to Bucuresti before Christmas.

Hero of the hour Richard Dourthe, whose goals helped les Avirons to a famous win over Toulouse last week, is on the bench and Henri-Pierre Vermis takes his place in the centre, with Benjamin Thierry back on the wing. Gregory Sudre replaces Sebastien Rouet at scrum-half.

Up front hooker Grant Hill comes in for Arnaud Heguy and South African lock Steven Hall replaces Oscar Astarloa. In the back row captain Louis Massabeau returns from injury and Leo Lafaiali'i replaces Charlie Ternisien at number eight.

Meanwhile, Toulon have also made changes, with Marc Andreu replaceing Laurent Buchet on the wing and Benjamin Servien in for centre Grégory Tutard.

Nicky Smit and Gregory Bernard are the locks, with Franck Alazet moving to number eight and O,livier Rosenplatt dropping out altogether. Hooker Sebastien Bisciglia and prop Sarel Louw are also given starts.

Bayonne: 15 Clement Fromont, 14 Benjamin Lhande, 13 Sébastien Roque, 12 Henri-pierre Vermis, 11 Benjamin Thierry, 10 Gerard Fraser, 9 Gregory Sudre, 8 Yannick Lamour, 7 Leo Lafaili'i, 6 Louis Massabeau (capt), 5 Steven Hall, 4 Thierry Cleda, 3 Jorge Garcia, 2 Grant Hill, 1 Jean-Marie Usandisaga.
Replacements: 16 Christophe Laurent, 17 Eduard Coetzee, 18 Jeremy Tomuli, 19 Cédric Bergez, 20 Vlastcheslav Gratchev, 21 Matthieu Siro, 22 Richard Dourthe.

Toulon: 15 Olivier Grimaud, 14 Marc Andreu, 13 Franck Comba, 12 Benjamin Servien, 11 Guillamme Liabeuf, 10 Chris Rossouw, 9 Benoît Marfaing, 8 Franck Alazet, 7 Thomas Sourice, 6 Eric Espagno, 5 Grégory Bernard, 4 Nicky Smit, 3 Eusebio Guinazu, 2 Sébastien Bisciglia, 1 Sarel Louw.
Replacements: 16 Camille Traversa, 17 Phillip Fitzgerald, 18 Medhi Merabet, 19 Rachid Ourak, 20 Patrice Teisseire, 21 Laurent Buchet, 22 Bruno Lancelle.

Referee: Rob Debney (England)
Touch judges: Tim Beddoe, Paul Dix (both England)
Match commissioner: Marc Memim (France)

BUCURESTI v GLOUCESTER
Saturday January 14, Steaua Stadium, 14:00

England sevens captain Simon Amor will make his first start of the season on Saturday aiming to fill the boots of Ludovic Mercier in the European Challenge Cup against Bucuresti.

The versatile play-maker will replace the Guinness Premiership’s leading scorer – and also inherit the kicking duties for Gloucester’s trip to Romania.

Amor will make only his third appearance of the campaign in a vastly changed line-up announced by head coach Dean Ryan.

In total, there are 12 changes to the starting XV from the one that won away at Saracens last Sunday but Amor is relishing the chance of extending Gloucester’s 100% record in the competition.

“Because of my involvement with the sevens, my last appearance for Gloucester was against Saracens in November and that was at scrum-half, but I am really looking forward to the opportunity this weekend,” Amor told the club website.

“On that day I came on at number nine and it can be quite difficult making the transition between the two positions but we have a lot to play for individually and collectively and I cannot wait for the chance.

“Both Toulon and Bayonne have been to Bucuresti and only just got through with wins so we are anticipating that it will a difficult place to play. Add in the weather conditions and the travelling and it will be tough.

Amor will line-up at half-back alongside Haydn Thomas but there are changes throughout the side.

There is an entirely new front row with Nick Wood, Rob Elloway and Terry Sigley alongside each other, while Mark Cornwell partners Adam Eustace at lock.

The experience of Jake Boer and Peter Buxton, who will skipper the side, hold everything together with youngster Luke Narraway at number eight completing the back row.

Terry Fanolua and Anthony Allen get chances in the centre; while Marcel Garvey, Rob Thirlby and Jon Goodridge complete an exciting back three.

Bucuresti have lost both international half-backs for Gloucester's visit, meaning Florin Vlaicu moves back to fly-half from the wing to replace Dan Vlad and Alexandru Lupu continues to deputise for Iulian Andrei, who is on the bench.

In the second row, Florin Tatu replaces Marius Tigora, and Daniel Carpo is in for Tatu in the back row. There is also a rare start for Madalin Baralaulea.

Bucuresti: 15 Dan Dumbrava, 14 Catalin Nicolae, 13 Robert Dascalu, 12 Minya Gal, 11 Ioan Teodorescu, 10 Florin Vlaicu, 9 Alexandru Lupu, 8 Cosmin Ratiu, 7 Daniel Carpo, 6 Madalin Baralaulea, 5 Cristian Mocanu, 4 Florin Tatu, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Marcel Mihalache (captain), 1 Nicola Nere.
16 Radu Basalau, 17 Bogdan Zebega, 18 Stere Sponte, 19 Stelian Burcea, 20 Onal Ageacai, 21 Catalin Fercu, 22 Iulian Andrei.

Gloucester: 15 Jon Goodridge, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Terry Fanolua, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Rob Thirlby, 10 Simon Amor, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Jake Boer, 6 Peter Buxton (captain), 5 Mark Cornwell, 4 Adam Eustace, 3 Terry Sigley, 2 Rob Elloway, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 17 Gary Powell, 18 Alex Brown, 19 Quinton Davids, 20 Ludovic Mercier, 21 Peter Richards, 22 Mark Foster.

Referee: David Rosich (France)
Touch judges: Eric Briquet Campin (France), tba
Match commissioner: Alain Fernandez (France)