Preview of the matches
SATURDAY
Pool Five
Benetton Treviso v Scarlets,
Stadio Comunale di Monigo, 1.30
FOR THE Scarlets to qualify from this fiendishly difficult pool they need four, probably five, points today in Italy.
Only problem is Treviso will have identified this as a big scalp from miles out and will seek to replicate Aironi’s heroics in beating Biarritz last week.
BENETTON TREVISO: L McLean; J Maddock, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi, A Vilk; W de Waal, E Gori; I Fernandez Rouyet, E Ceccato, L Cittadini; A Pavanello (capt), C van Zyl; R Barbieri, A Zanni, M Vosawai. Replacements: F Sbaraglini, M Muccignat, P di Santo, V Bernabò, M Filippucci, F Semenzato, B Williams, K Burton.
SCARLETS: D Newton; M Stoddart, G Maule, R King, S Lamont; R Priestland, T Knoyle; I Thomas, K Owens, S Gardner; V Cooper, D Day; J Turnbull, J Edwards (capt) B Morgan. Replacements: E Phillips, R Jones, P John, J Faamatuainu, R McCusker, M Roberts, S Williams, L Williams.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Pool Six
Toulouse v Glasgow Warriors.
Stade Ernest Wallon, 1.30
THE CHAMPIONS may use this fixture to shift through the proverbial gears as they seek a winning momentum to improve their Top 14 standing. Medard and Heymans to cause havoc as Toulouse aim to complete round four with 17 points.
TOULOUSE: C Poitrenaud; M Medard, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; D Skrela, B Kelleher; D Human, V Lacombe, Y Montes; Y Maestri, P Albacete; J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir (capt), L Picamoles. Replacements: V Paquet, J Poux, C Johnston, G Lamboley, N Vergallo, V Clerc, V Delasau, Y Nyanga.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: B Stortoni; H OHare, M Evans, G Morrison, D van der Merwe; R Jackson, C Gregor; J Welsh, F Thomson, M Low; R Gray, A Kellock (capt); R Harley, J Barclay, R Vernon. Replacements: P MacArthur, R Grant, K Tkachuk, A Muldowney, C Fusaro, H Pyrgos, P Murchie, F Aramburu
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Pool Three
Toulon v London Irish
Stade Félix Mayo, 3.30
LONDON IRISH coach Toby Booth called this fixture a “do or die” for his team but with two defeats already in the satchel and Toulon just two points shy of Munster, Irish are a further five points adrift, they need a win here and a favour from the Ospreys.
On current form, this looks unlikely on both counts.
TOULON: B Lapeyre, R Lamont, G Messina, T May, R Wulf, F Contepomi, P Mignoni, L Emmanuelli, M Ivaldi, D Kubriashvili, J Suta, D Schofield, O Missoup, G Smith, J van Niekerk (capt). Replacements: J Orioli, S Taumoepeau, M Merabet, C Loamanu, J El Abd, P Sackey, L Magnaval, K Chesney.
LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; J Joseph, S Mapusua, D Bowden, S Tagicakibau; C Malone, P Hodgson; C Dermody (capt), J Buckland, F Rautenbach; N Kennedy, B Casey; R Thorpe, S Armitage, C HalaUfia. Replacements: B Blaney, A Corbisiero, P Ion, K Roche, G Stowers, T Ojo, R Lamb, D Allinson.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
SUNDAY
Pool Six
London Wasps v Newport Gwent Dragons
Adams Park, 1pm
Sky Sports 1
ON MAGNERS League evidence, the Dragons are a poor side and Wasps are capable of setting up a January shoot-out with Toulouse for qualification.
Five points on offer here.
LONDON WASPS: M van Gisbergen; T Varndell, B Jacobs (capt), S Kefu, D Lemi; D Walder, J Simpson; Z Taulafo, J Ward, B Broster; S Shaw, J Cannon; J Worsley, S Betsen, A Powell. Replacements: T Lindsay, S Ruwers, B Baker, M Veale, W Matthews, N Berry, R Flutey, R Haughton.
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONs: W Harries; A Hughes, T Riley, A Smith (capt), A Brew; M Jones, W Evans; H Gustafson, S Jones, B Castle; L Charteris, S Morgan; L Evans, G Thomas, T Faletau. Replacements: L Burns, G Robinson, P Palmer, R Sidoli, D Lydiate, J Leadbeater, N Brew, P Leach.
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Pool One
Edinburgh v Castres Olympique
Murrayfield, 2pm
EDINBURGH’S interest in this tournament is already complete but Castres can still qualify but a minimum four points is required here to keep the pressure on Northampton.
EDINBURGH: C Paterson; L Jones, B Cairns, J Houston, T Visser; D Blair, G Laidlaw; A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross; S Turnbull, C Hamilton; S Newlands, R Grant (capt), S McInally. Replacements: A Kelly, K Traynor, D Young, E Lozada, A MacDonald, N De Luca, J Thompson, S Webster.
CASTRES OLYMPIQUE: F Denos; V Inigo, P Garcia, S Bai, J Tatupu; P Bernard, T Sanchou; M Coetzee, M Bonello, A Peikrishvili; M Rolland, R Capo Ortega; I Diarra, Y Caballero, C Masoe (capt). Replacements: B Kayser, Y Forestier, D Saayman, K Kulemin, J Bornman, R Martial, S Tillous-Borde, R Cabannes.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Cardiff Blues v Northampton Saints
Cardiff city, 3pm
THE SAINTS can reinforce their tag as one of the tournament favourites by winning on the road. If they maintain their usual intensity Pool One will have a sorted look to it by Sunday evening.
Jamie Roberts’ return to the Cardiff bench after a wrist injury is a massive boost for Welsh rugby.
CARDIFF BLUES: C Czekaj; R Mustoe, C Laulala, T Shanklin, T James; D Parks, R Rees; G Jenkins, G Williams, F Filise; B Davies, P Tito (capt); M Molitika, M Williams, X Rush. Replacements: R Williams, S Hobbs, J Yapp, M Paterson, S Warburton, T Slater, C Sweeney, J Roberts.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: B Foden, C Ashton, J Clarke, J Downey, P Diggin, S Myler, R Powell, S Tongauiha, D Hartley (capt), B Mujati, C Lawes, C Day, P Dowson, T Wood, R Wilson. Replacements: B Sharman, R Dreyer, A Waller, M Sorenson, C Clark, L Dickson, S Geraghty, J Ansbro.
Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
Pool Five
Leicester Tigers v Perpignan
Welford Road, 3pmSky Sports 1
DID ANYONE think to market this as “When Tuilagis collide”?
Big brother (literally) Henry checks in on his younger siblings, Alesana and the England- qualified Manu (who is on the bench) at Leicester.
After Perpignan’s 24-19 win in France last week the backlash should yield four points to the Tigers and complete control of the pool enter the final rounds.
LEICESTER TIGERS: G Murphy (capt); S Hamilton, M Smith, A Allen, A Tuilagi; T Flood, B Youngs; M Ayerza, G Chuter, M Castrogiovanni; L Deacon, G Skivington; T Waldrom, C Newby, J Crane. Replacements: R Hawkins, J White, D Cole, E Slater, S Mafi, J Grindal, J Staunton, M Tuilagi.
PERPIGNAN: J Michel; F Sid, D Marty, M Mermoz, A Plante; N Laharrague, D Mele; P Freshwater, M Tincu N Mas (capt); R Alvarez Kairelis, O Olibeau; G Le Corvec, J Perez, H Tuilagi. Replacements: C Geli, K Pulu, B Bourrust, O Tonita, R Tchale Watchou, D Chouly, F Cazenave, M Edmonds.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Heineken Cup Previews Gavin Cummiskey
