Champions Cup, Round Two - Teams and Predictions

Yesterday at 11:34 AM

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: The Sharks can take a huge step towards qualification for the Round of 16 of the Champions Cup if they can upset Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Saturday.

However, a long list of injuries has thrown a spanner in the works when it comes to their preparation for the clash.

They currently have 15 players on the injury list and it includes Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Lukhanyo Am, Grant Williams, Makazole Mapimpi, Vincent Koch and Bongi Mbonambi.

They also left a few other Boks at home to manage workloads ahead of United Rugby Championship derbies the Bulls and Stormers later this month.

The Sharks banked full points against Exeter Chiefs in their Champions Cup Round One clash in Durban last weekend, but they will be underdogs in Leicester.

John Plumtree's side will be up against a team that includes Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard and Los Pumas captain Julian Montoya, as well as the likes of England internationals Freddie Steward, Dan Cole, Ben Youngs, Jack van Poorvliet and Tommy Reffell.

What was clear on the opening weekend was that teams tend to lift themselves to something akin to Test match intensity for Champions Cup games - but particularly so for home games. Leicester were away last week, where they lost to Bordeaux Begles, but Pollard and many of the other stars weren't part of that team.

The story continues below...

Saturday, December 14:

Bulls v Northampton Saints
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

Teams:

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (captain), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Stedman Gans.

Northampton: 15 George Furbank (captain), 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Henry Pollock, 6 Alex Coles, 5 Tom Lockett, 4 Temo Mayanavanua, 3 Elliot Millar-Mills, 2 Curtis Langdon, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun.
Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Tom Pearson, 22 Archie McParland, 23 George Hendy.

Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referee: Jeremy Rozier (France), Adrien Marbot (France)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (France)

Ulster v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
(Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast - Kick-off: 15.15 GMT; 16.15 CET)

Prediction

Teams:

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Dave McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O'Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Eric O'Sullivan.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 James Humphreys, 23 Rory Telfer.

Bordeaux: 15 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Arthur Retiere, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Maxime Lucu (captain), 8 Tevita Tatafu, 7 Lachie Swinton, 6 Marko Gazzotti, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Carlü Sadie, 2 Romain Latterrade, 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Alexandre Ricard, 21 Bastien Vergnes, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Matéo Garcia.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Franco Rosella (Italy), Alex Frasson (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)

Leicester Tigers v Sharks
(Welford Road, Leicester - Kick-off: 17.30 GMT; 19.30 SAST)

Prediction

Teams:

Leicester: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Josh Bassett, 13 Izaia Perese, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Olly Cracknell, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 George Martin, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Cronin, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Cameron Henderson, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Joe Woodward.

Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne' Rahl, 20 Tino Mavesere, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Diego Appollis, 23 Hakeem Kunene.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referee: Filippo Russo (Italy), Manuel Bottino (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

Leinster v Clermont Auvergne
(Lansdowne Road, Dublin - Kick-off: 17.30 GMT; 18.30 CET)

Prediction

Teams:

Leinster: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Liam Turner, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Jimmy O'Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tom Clarkson, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Andrew Osborne.

Clermont: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Lucas Tauzin, 13 Pierre Fouyssac, 12 George Moala, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Irae Simone, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 8 Fritz Lee (captain), 7 Alexandre Fischer, 6 Killian Tixeront, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Peceli Yato, 3 Michael Ala'alatoa, 2 Etienne Fourcade, 1 Etienne Falgoux.
Replacements: 16 Barnabe Massa, 17 Giorgi Akhaladze, 18 Cristian Ojovan, 19 Oskar Rixen, 20 Antoine Chalus-Cercy, 21 Sebastien Bezy, 22 Ben Urdapilleta, 23 Theo Giral.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace (England), Jamie Leahy (England)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)

Harlequins v Stormers
(Twickenham Stoop, London - Kick-off: 20.00 GMT; 22.00 SAST)

Prediction

Teams:

Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Luke Northmore, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 James Chisholm, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Hammond, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Harry Browne, 20 Jack Kenningham, 21 Will Evans, 22 Will Porter, 23 Jarrod Evans

Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 JC Mars.

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
Assistant referees: Evan Urruzmendi (France), Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

Stade Rochelais v Bristol Bears
(Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle - Kick-off: 21.00 CET; 20.00 GMT)

Prediction

Teams:

Stade Rochelais: Dillyn Leyds, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Grégory Alldritt (captain), 7 Matthias Haddad, 6 Oscar Jegou, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Reda Wardi.
Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq, 17 Louis Penverne, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Levani Botia, 21 Judicael Cancoriet, 22 Thomas Berjon, 23 Jules Favre.

Bristol: 15 Benjamin Elizalde, 14 Jack Bates, 13 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Sam Worsley, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Jake Heenan, 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Joe Owen, 4 Steven Luatua (captain), 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Ben Grondona, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Rich Lane, 23 Joe Jenkins.

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Keane Davison (Ireland), Daniel Carson (Ireland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)

Sunday, December 15:

Benetton v Bath
(Stadio Monigo, Treviso - Kick-off: 14.00 CET; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

Teams:

Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza (captain), 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Mirco Spagnolo.
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Nacho Brex.

Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Regan Grace, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Miles Reid (captain), 7 Ethan Staddon, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Ross Molony, 4 Ewan Richards, 3 Billy Sela, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Francois van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Louie Hennessey, 23 Jaco Coetzee.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland), Jonny Perriam (Scotland)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (Scotland)

Stade Francais Paris v Saracens
(Stade Jean Bouin, Paris - Kick-off: 14.00 CET; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

Teams:

Stade Francais: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Peniasi Dakuwaqa, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Charles Laloi, 10 Zack Henry, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Juan Martin Scelzo, 7 Ryan Chapuis, 6 Sekou Macalou, 5 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 4 Paul Gabrillagues (captain), 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Clement Castets.
Replacements: 16 Lucas Peyresblanques, 17 Moses Alo-Emile, 18 Hugo N'Diaye, 19 Setareki Turagacoke, 20 Andy Timo, 21 Yoan Tanga, 22 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 23 Samuel Ezeala.

Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Lucio Cinti Luna, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Theo McFarland, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Jamie George, 1 Rhys Carre.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Phil Brantingham, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Tiff Eden, 23 Olly Hartley.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Finlay Brown (Scotland), Rob McDowell (Scotland)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

RC Toulon v Glasgow Warriors
(Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon - Kick-off: 16.15 CET; 15.15 GMT)

Prediction

Teams:

Toulon: 15 Marius Domon, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12 Jérémy Sinzelle, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Charles Ollivon (captain), 6 Lewis Ludlam, 5 Brian Alainu'uese, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Dany Priso.
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Daniel Brennan, 18 Beka Gigashvili, 19 Matthias Halagahu, 20 Selevasio Tolofua, 21 Jules Danglot, 22 Enzo Herve, 23 Setariki Tuicuvu.

Glasgow: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Jamie Dobie, 13 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Ben Afshar, 8 Jack Mann, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Henco Venter, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Olujare Oguntibeju, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 Angus Fraser, 22 George Horne, 23 Tom Jordan.

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England), Jonathan Healy (England)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Exeter Chiefs v Stade Toulousain
(Sandy Park, Exeter - Kick-off: 17.30 GMT; 18.30 CET)

Prediction

Teams:

Exeter: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Ben Hammersley, 12 Tamati Tua, 11 Tommy Wyatt, 10 Henry Slade, 9 Stu Townsend, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Jacques Vermeulen (captain), 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Richard Capstick, 4 Rus Tuima, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Dafydd Jenkins, 20 Greg Fisilau, 21 Will Becconsall, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Zack Wimbush.

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Juan-Cruz Mallia, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Jack Willis, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Rodrigue Neti.
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 David Ainu'u, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Théo Ntamack, 21 Mathis Castro-Ferreira, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Blair Kinghorn.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland), Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Additional source: @ChampionsCup

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