Preview - EEC Round Six

Deciders across the breadth of Europe

With Round Six of the European Challenge Cup upon us, there are still seven quarter-final berths up for grabs.

ASM Clermont Auvergne is the only side sleeping soundly – the French outfit is now eight points clear of Worcester in Pool Five courtesy of last week's 35-22 win at Sixways. 

Bath need a point from their final Pool Four game at the Rec to Montpellier on Saturday to ensure a to ensure a home quarter-final.

And, provided they avoid defeats this weekend, Saracens and Brive will also score home ties by finishing as pool winners; Saracens are home to Glasgow Warriors in a Pool Two decider while Brive host Montauban in Pool Three.

However, Pool One  is wide open after the Dragons beat Premiership leaders Bristol last weekend.

The only certainty is that one of them will finish up as Pool winners and, with the teams deadlocked on 20 points apiece, they will be targeting bonus-point wins when Bristol host Bucuresti and the Dragons travel to Bayonne.

If Bristol and the Dragons finish level on match points – be it 24 or 25 points – the Dragons will win the pool courtesy of their superior 3-2 try count in the two matches between the teams.

"You would have to say the Dragons have edged in front of us and are favourites to go through at the moment," said Bristol coach Richard Hill.

"We would hope to get a bonus point in our home game against Bucuresti and it will be slightly more difficult for the Dragons to go away to Bayonne and get five points.

"Getting a home draw in the quarter-finals is really important – no-one wants to go away to places like Saracens, Bath or Clermont Auvergne – so getting a home draw makes a massive difference."

Hill admits that getting into next year's Heineken Cup was not a target he set his side at the start of the season, but now they are top of the Guinness Premiership and still in contention in the European Challenge Cup he admits they will have to re-set those targets.

"Finishing fifth to eighth in the Premiership was our target at the start of the season, but we will have to sit down at the end of the month and set our sights a bit higher," said Hill.

"It has been an excellent season so far – none of us would have expected to be where we are in the Premiership.

"We have won games by working very hard for each other and we all have to be playing very well, so from that point of view losing to the Dragons was a good reminder."

But injuries have forced Bristol to make several changes and he opts to rest a few others.

There is a new centre pairing as Walter Pozzebon replaces Sam Cox who has a hand injury and Rob Higgitt returns in place of Josh Taumalolo who is rested after taking a blow to the neck last week.

Jason Strange comes in for David Hill at fly-half with the All Black reverting to the bench, there is a new look front row. Alex Clarke is back after illness and David Blaney has recovered from a rib injury. Wayne Thompson comes in at tighthead.

Argentina international Mariano Sambucetti starts in place of Gareth Llewellyn who gets a well-deserved week off and Craig Short is named at openside in place of Alfie To'oala.

The Dragons have confirmed their XV for Bayonne, welcoming back Ben Daly and Luke Charteris. The other change from the team that defeated Bristol last weekend sees Michael Owen come in at number eight with Colin Charvis moving to blindside flanker.

Bayonne continue to have Henri-Pierre Vermis deputising at fly-half in the absence of Gerard Fraser, and Richard Dourthe is back to lead the team from the centre.

Saracens boss Alan Gaffney names a completely different pack for the encounter with Glasgow.

Kevin Yates, Fabio Ongaro and Cobus Visagie making up the front row; Paul Gustard, Richard Hill and Ben Skirving form the back row; and captain Simon Raiwalui returns to the starting line-up alongside Iain Fullarton to complete the forwards line-up.

In the backs, the only changes come on the wing with Kameli Ratuvou and Richard Haughton brought into the XV in place of Tevita Vaikona and Tomas de Vedia.

Glasgow retain much the same line-up from last week's victory over Parma.

Newcastle Falcons coach John Fletcher has shifted Mathew Tait to full-back as they travel to Italian side Petrarca Padova on Saturday.

Tait, England's outside centre in both November Tests against South Africa, will replace injured skipper Matt Burke for Falcons' Italian job.

Newcastle rugby director John Fletcher said: "I spoke to Mathew and [England coach] Brian Ashton about it before making the decision, and they are both very excited about it.

"I don't want to put words into Brian's mouth, but having had a long conversation with him last night about it, he agrees it is a positive move to give him a run at number 15.

"England, in my opinion, have a dearth of quality full-backs, and Mathew has characteristics I feel are very well suited to that role.

"He certainly has a long-term future in the game, but in what position doesn't really concern me.

"Mathew is an outside back, and in my opinion is capable of playing anywhere from 13 outwards.

"I think he will be a sensational full-back, and it was always part of my planning to give him a run there at some point.

"Whether or not it means he will be a contender for England at fullback isn't something I can say, that’s up to Brian, but having spoken to him about it I don’t think he is someone who gets too emotional about the number on a player's back."

Harlequins make nine changes to the team that started against Montpellier last Friday for their game against Connacht.

In the pack, Tani Fuga returns at hooker in place of Jimmy Richards, while Ollie Kohn comes into the second row to partner Nicolas Spanghero with Jim Evans dropping to the bench.

In the back row, captain Paul Volley replaces Will Skinner and the return of Andre Vos to the blindside flank means Chris Hala’Ufia switches to number eight in place of Nick Easter, who is rested.  

In the back division, Andy Gomarsall has recovered from the injury that has forced him to miss the last three matches and takes over from Steve So’oialo at scrum half.

Gavin Duffy drops to the bench as Mike Brown returns at full back, while Stuart Abbott replaces Jordan Turner-Hall in the midfield and partners Hal Luscombe. David Strettle and Simon Keogh start on the right and left wings respectively, in place of Ugo Monye and Tom Williams.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named an unchanged back line from that which played Bath Rugby at the Sportsground last Friday.

There are three changes in the forwards with Captain John Fogarty, Ray Ofisa and Ryan Strudwick being called back into the side in place of Adrian Flavin, Colm Rigney and Andrew Farley. Flavin, Rigney and Farley are all named among the replacements.

Conor O’Loughlin remains at scrum half in place of Chris Keane, who is named among the replacements. O’Loughlin, who will make his 50th competitive appearance for Connacht at the Stoop on Saturday, has already scored two tries in his six appearances this season and will be looking to add to the six he has scored for Connacht since signing in 2003.

Bath coach Steve Meehan does not know what to expect from Montpellier, who have no chance of qualifying yet are capable of creating surprises.

"This is a difficult one. Because they have nothing to play for in many respects, there is no fear in their game," said Meehan

"They could come and throw the ball around, they could play tight, they could kick it away, or they could be disinterested because they have got a big match in their national competition next week which is very important for them.

"They cannot go through the quarters, so what do they do and who do they send? It is a very difficult situation to plan for."

Meehan has made just five changes to the starting line-up since round five as Bath Rugby aim to finish the pool stages of the European Challenge Cup with a win over Montpellier tomorrow.

There will be ten internationals in the starting fifteen, demonstrating how important this match is to the team. As expected, Michael Lipman makes his comeback from injury, lining up in the back row for the first time since 2nd September, and Peter Short will start on the blindside flank.

James Scaysbrook makes way for Lipman, and both Isaac Feaunati and Andy Beattie are rested.

In the backs, Michael Stephenson, who scored a hat-trick in last Friday’s victory over Connacht in Galway, moves to the right wing, as Nick Abendanon comes in at full-back. Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu returns at outside centre in place of Chev Walker.

Montpellier do bring a weak team to the Rec, but Argentinean internationals Martin Durand and Olivier Sarramea will lead the team in forwards and backs respectively.

Clermont and Albi are both fielding comparative second XVs for their dead rubber match, as do Montauban in Brive, but the Correziens are at full strength as they bid to nick a quarter-final spot.

European Challenge Cup – Round Six
(All times are local)

Friday, January 19
Pool 1 – Bristol v Bucuresti, 19:30
Pool 2 – Glasgow v Saracens, 19:30
Pool 1 – Bayonne v Dragons, 20:30

Saturday, January 20
Pool 4 – Bath v Montpellier, 14:15
Pool 4 – Harlequins v Connacht, 14:15
Pool 5 – Clermont v Albi, 15:00
Pool 5 – Viadana v Worcester, 15:00
Pool 3 – Brive v Montauban, 15:00
Pool 3 – Padova v Newcastle, 15:00
Pool 2 – Narbonne v Parma, 19:30