Pool One Benetton Treviso v Perpignan Today, Stadio Comunale di Monigo Kick-off – 1.30pm
The other two teams in Munster’s pool get things under way with the French champions expected to prevail – probably with a bonus point to boot.
Perpignan have not selected their strongest side, with Romanian Marius Tincu and Argentine Rimas Alvarez Kairelis on the bench.
TREVISO: L McLean; E Mulieri, A Sgarbi, G Garcia, A Vilk; M Goosen, F Semenzato; M Rizzo, L Ghiraldini, I Fernandez Rouyet; A Pavanello (capt), C van Zyl; A Vermaak , A Zanni, D Kingi. PERPIGNAN: J Porical; F Sid, D Marty, M Mermoz, J Candelon; N Laharrague, F Cazenave; S Chobet, G Guirado, N Mas (capt); G Vilaceca, R Tchale Watchou; D Chouly, G Britz, H Tuilagi.
Pool Two
Glasgow Warriors v Biarritz
Today, Firhill Arena
Kick-off – 3.45pm, live on Sky Sports 2
This match marks a real examination on whether Glasgow have the wherewithal to pay something more substantial than lip service to European aspirations.
Biarritz enter this match in decent form on the evidence of the French Championship.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: B Stortoni; D van der Merwe, D McCall, R Dewey, T Evans; D Parks, C Cussiter; J Welsh, D Hall, M Low; T Barker, A Kellock (capt), R Vernon, J Barclay, J Beattie. BIARRITZ: M Bosch; T Ngwenya, A Erinle, D Traille, N Brusque; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; E Coetzee, R Terrain, C Johnstone; J Thion (capt), P Taele; M Lund, I Harinordoquy, F Faure.
Pool Three
ASM Clermont Auvergne v Viadana
Today, Stade Marcel Michelin
Kick-off – 3pm
The only matter in doubt is the final scoreline. Clermont should be able to rack up the tries and a bonus-point victory. On the evidence of team selection – playmaker Brock James is named among the replacements – coach Vern Cotter is using the opportunity to look at some squad players.
Viadana includes Gavin Quinnell, a younger brother of Scott.
CLERMONT: A Rougerie (capt); G Williams, G Canale, S Bai, J Malzieu; B Russell, M Parra; L Faure, M Ledesma, D Zirakashvil; C Samson, T Privat; J Bonnaire, A Audebert, E Vermeulen. VIADANA: G Law; S Pace, M Harvey, S Cox, M Pratichetti; P Hola, M Wilson; M Alonso, R Santamaria, I Elosu; S Hohneck, Q Geldenhuys (capt), A Benatti, A Birchall, G Quinnell.
Leicester Tigers v Ospreys
Tomorrow, Welford Road
Kick-off – 12.45pm, live on Sky Sports 1
Geordan Murphy is sidelined with a shoulder injury so Scott Hamilton continues at fullback, but there will be a considerable Irish presence in what is arguably the match of the weekend.
Johne Murphy and Jeremy Staunton, are included in the Tigers line-up and Tommy Bowe has simply continued where he left off for the Lions, his footballing ability ensuring he has fitted easily into the outside-centre role.
The Ospreys’ indifferent form may leave them second best here.
LEICESTER TIGERS: S Hamilton; M Smith, D Hipkiss, A Mauger, J Murphy; J Staunton, H Ellis; M Ayerza, G Chuter, J White; L Deacon (capt), B Kay; T Croft, L Moody, J Crane. OSPREYS: L Byrne; N Walker, T Bowe, J Hook, S Williams; D Biggar, M Phillips; P James, H Bennett, C Griffiths; A Jones, J Thomas; J Collins, M Holah, R Jones (capt).
Pool Four
Stade Français Paris v Edinburgh
Today, Stade Jean Bouin, Paris
Kick-off – 1.35pm, live on Sky Red Button
Stade Français have improved immeasurably since parting company with the coaching team of Ewen McKenzie and Christophe Dominici and will look to continue that upward spiral this afternoon.
Scotland’s Hugo Southwell, Australian Marc Gasnier, captain, Argentina’s Rodrigo Roncero, English duo Tom Palmer and James Haskell and Italy’s Sergio Parisse underline the cosmopolitan nature of the team.
Edinburgh’s expansive style should guarantee an entertaining afternoon.
STADE FRANÇAIS PARIS: H Southwell; J Arias, G Bousses, G Messina, M Gasnier; L Beauxis, J Dupuy; R Roncero (capt), D Szarzewski, S Marconnet; T Palmer, P Pape; J Haskell, A Burban, S Parisse.
EDINBURGH: C Paterson; M Robertson, B Cairns, J Houston, T Visser; P Godman, M Blair (capt); A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross; C Hamilton, S MacLeod; A MacDonald, R Grant, A Hogg.
Pool Five
Cardiff Blues v Harlequins
Today, Cardiff City Stadium
Kick-off – 1.35pm, live on Sky Sports 2
Dai Young will be hoping that a change of competition will bring better fortune for his Cardiff team that has started the season slowly.
Harlequins will hope that the focus will centre solely on on-pitch matters. The English club are without Ugo Monye, but do include a healthy Irish representation with former Ulster man Lewis Stevenson named in the secondrow.
Belfast-born Ireland A international John Andress, former Ulster openside flanker Neil McMillan and former Ireland underage international and Cork Constiution secondrow Shane O’Connor are included among the replacements.
Should be a home win.
CARDIFF BLUES: B Blair; G Thomas, T Shanklin, J Roberts, T James; S Norton-Knight, R Rees; J Yapp, G Williams, F Filise; B Davies, P Tito (capt), A Powell, S Warburton, X Rush. HARLEQUINS: M Brown; D Strettle, G Tiesi, T Masson, G Camacho; N Evans, S Sooialo; C Jones, T Fuga, M Lambert; L Stevenson, J Evans; C Robshaw, W Skinner (capt), T Guest.
Toulouse v Sale Sharks
Tomorrow, Stade Municipal
Kick-off – 3pm, live on Sky Sports 1
A quick glance at the Toulouse bench and it just reinforces the difference in quality in terms of the playing personnel. Pretty much every one of the home side’s replacements would start if they were playing for Sale.
This is a real damage limitation exercise for the visitors.
TOULOUSE: M Medard; V Clerc, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; J Elissalde, B Kelleher; D Human, W Servat, C Johnston; G Lamboley, P Albacete; J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir, L Picamoles. SALE SHARKS: M Vakacegu; B Cohen, J Kennedy, A Tuilagi, O Ripol; N MacLeod, D Peel (capt); G Kerr, M Schwalger, J Forster; R O'Donnell, S Cox; J Gaskell, D Seymour, C Fearns. B Roberts, L Imiolek.
Pool Six
Scarlets v Brive
Today, Parc y Scarlets
Kick-off – 3pm
Simon Easterby occupies a dual role for the Scarlets as essentially the forwards’ coach while also extending his playing career. The Welsh side are in a rebuilding phase and will have to rely on the experience of internationals such as Sean Lamont, Mark Jones, Stephen Jones, Matthew Rees, along with a player of rich promise, inside centre Jon Davies.
Brive recruited heavily in England, manifest in the presence of centre Jamie Noon, halfbacks Andy Goode and Shaun Perry and former Welsh international Alix Popham. Ex-Connacht secondrow Christian Short also starts. Scarlets might just sneak it.
SCARLETS: D Evans; L Williams, S Lamont, J Davies, M Jones (capt); S Jones, M Roberts; I Thomas, M Rees, D Manu; L Reed, D Day; S Easterby, D Jones, D Lyons. BRIVE: F Estebanez (capt); H Agulla, J Noon, L Mackay, V Waqaseduadua; A Goode, S Perry; D Kinchagishvili, J Bonrepaux, J Garcia; C Short, A Mela; A Popham,V Forgues, A Claassen.
