Challenge Cup, Round Three - Teams and predictions

Today at 02:24 PM

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEWS: It's do or die for many teams in the Challenge Cup, one of them being the Cheetahs who will host Zebre in a must-win clash - with the Lions looking to make it two from three when they face a star-studded Montpellier outfit on Saturday.

The opening clash on Saturday will see Perpignan take on Cardiff at the Stade Aime Giral.

A draw against the Cheetahs and a loss to Connacht, Perpignan find themselves in fourth position in Pool One.

The French outfit will be looking to replicate the form that saw them down La Rochelle in a recent Top 14 clash.

Cardiff on the other hand are currently on a three-match unbeaten run in the URC and will bank on that form going into this Challenge Cup clash if they are to confrim their qualification sooner rather than later.

The battle for No.1 spot in Pool three will be decided in the top of the table clash between Vannes and Edinburgh.

Vannes who are currently in second position had a strong start to their maiden Top 14 season, but three defeats in as many matches over the Christmas period means they'll coming onto Round Three a bit underdone.

Edinburgh who tops Pool Three had an impressive victory over Bayonne before pipping 1872 Cup rivals and URC champions Glasgow Warriors and will require that form to possibly cement top spot.

Also in Pool Three the fourth placed Black Lion returns to Challenge Cup action following impressive performances in the opening two rounds, which included a win over Top 14 outfit Vannes.

Bayonne will travel to Georgia and despite having an identical Challenge Cup record to Black Lion, are in sixth place.

They currently have two from three wins in the Top 14 and will head into the east in fine form.

An important match in Pool Two sees the Ospreys - who are currently in fifth position will take on Newcastle Falcons and will be keen to hit the ground running as they look for points to earn qualification.

An unbeaten during the festive period in the URC provides the Ospreys the perfect momentum heading into this Round Three clash.

On the flipside of the coin, Newcastle Falcons are currently without a win and dead last in Pool Two.

They're also on a low in terms of form after suffering heavy defeats in the Premiership against heavyweights Bath, Northampton and Harlequins heading into the Round Three EPCR clash.

A performance such as the one they had to beat Saracens will be required to elevate themselves from the bottom.

In what is arguably the clash of the weekend, Pool Two leaders Montpellier are currently two from as many matches in the Challenge Cup alongside three impressive wins in the Top 14 over the festive period.

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The Lions are currently in fourth spot and will be looking to steady the ship following a slight dip in form in the URC.

They will be hoping to replicate the performance they had against Pau in difficult conditions to elevate them further up the table.

The omission of Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg raised eyebrows but Lions forwards coach Julian Redelinghuys clarified it to @rugby365com. 

"There's different negotiations with the guys that played for the Springboks.

"Some guys started earlier with us and then got weekends off.

"It's just a managing process of the guys that were involved with the Springboks at the time so there's no injury with him," said Redelinghuys

Springbok wing Edwill van der Merwe is relishing the challenge of going up against a physical Montpellier outfit as the Lions are looking to get back to winning ways after some disappointing results.

"We've done our analysis, they're a physical team with big forwards.

"They're a team who loves attacking so we're expecting running game from them.

"They're also well-balanced with their kicking game as well and a well-rounded team and well coached.

"It will be a good challenge for us, for us as a team it's about getting back to winning ways so that will be the focus for this weekend."

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The final match on Saturday will see a top of the table Pool One clash between Connacht and Lyon.

The first placed Connacht will be banking on the form that helped them claim two wins from as many games as they look to bounce back from their festive period URC defeats.

The second placed Lyon followed their two Challenge Cup wins up with a solid Top 14 run over the festive period.

A draw against reigning Champions Cup holders Toulouse and Racing 92 as well as a win over Perpignan last weekend will see a confident outfit heading to The Sportsground.

On Sunday the Italians head to the Netherlands to take on the Cheetahs in the first of Sunday's matches.

The fifth-placed Cheetahs is in a must-win situation with two points following a draw and a loss.

The Cheetahs only travelled to Amsterdam on Wednesday evening in order to get better training days in familiar conditions with their clash against Zebre only on Sunday.

"That was part of the planning, because we knew we're only only planning on Sunday

"We said let's get two good days of training in, in South Africa, we know the conditions are still going to be fine

"You'll never know what you're going to get once you're here [Amsterdam] so we're ready."

Van der Westhuizen was full of praise for the Italian outfit and conceded that it will be a great challenge for his side to overcome

"They're a team that have beaten proper sides," he told @rugby365com. 

"Having a look at their results this year, they've been unlucky once or twice where they've come very close to beating the opposition.

"Up front they're a good side, they're very good at their maul defence especially.

"Scrum wise they're strong and they're a good attacking side as well.

"We're not taking this lightly, it's not a game we're coming in thinking it's going to be easy.

"We know we're up for a big fight.

"They play against proper opposition week in and out.

"We have to try and come into this game and hit our groove very quickly so it's a big challenge for us against a good side."

Consecutive defeats for Zebre in all competitions sees them limping into this clash, but are just one point away from fourth place in order to qualify for the knockout stages.

The final clash on Sunday sees the sixth placed Pau are in search of more stable form

After two losses in their last three Top 14 clashes they'll look to up their game in order to elevate themselves from their pool's wooden spoon position.

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Saturday, January 11

Perpignan v Cardiff

(Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan - Kick-off: 15.00 CET; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction 

@rugby365com: Perpignan by three points

Teams

Perpignan: 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Tavite Veredamu, 13 Job Poulet, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (captain), 11 Seta Toganiyadrava, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Gela Aprasidze, 8 Lucas Velarte, 7 Alessandro Ortombina, 6 Noe Della Schiava, 5 Mathieu Tanguy, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Nemo Roelofse, 2 Victor Montgaillard,1 Giorgi Beria
Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam, 17 Bruce Devaux, 18 Akato Fakatika, 19 Tristan Labouteley, 20 Patrick Sobela, 21 Tom Ecochard, 22 Antoine Aucagne, 23 Apisai Naqalevu

Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Regan Grace, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Teddy Williams (captain), 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Rhys Barratt
Replacements: 16 Dafydd Hughes, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Will Davies-King, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Ben Thomas, 23 Jacob Beetham

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Franco Rosella (Italy), Lorenzo Pedezzi (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)

Vannes v Edinburgh

(Stade de la Rabine, Vannes - Kick-off: 15.00 CET; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Edinburgh by 23 points

Teams

Vannes: 15 Gwenael Duplenne, 14 Salesi Rayasi, 13 Robin Taccola, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Filipo Nakosi, 10 Jean Cotarmanac'h, 9 Jules Lebail, 8 Joe Edwards (captain), 7 Matthieu Uhila, 6 Leon Boulier, 5 Timothe Mezou, 4 Christie van der Merwe, 3 Paga Tafili, 2 Theo Beziat, 1 Thomas Moukoro
Replacements: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Hugo Djehi, 18 Simon Bourgeois, 19 Matteo Desjeux, 20 Jesse Parete, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Tani Vili, 23 Inaki Ayarza

Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 James Lang, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Ali Price, 8 Ben Muncaster, 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Jamie Ritchie (captain), 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements:16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Boan Venter, 18 D'arcy Rae, 19 Glen Young, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22.l Ross Thompson, 23 Mosese Tuipulotu

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Manuel Botto (Italy), Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Guiseppe Vivarini (Italy)

Black Lion v Bayonne

(Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi - Kick-off: 17.15 GET; 14.15 CET, 13.15 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com:Bayonne by 8 points

Teams

Black Lion: 15 Luka Tsirekidze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Demi Tapladze, 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Amiran Shvangiradze, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Tengiz Peranidze, 8 Luka Ivanishvili, 7 Mikheil Gachechiladze, 6 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 5 Guram Ganiashvili, 4 Mikheil Babunashvili, 3 Giorgi Chkhartishvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1. Dato Abdushelishvili
Replacements:16 Irakli Kvatadze, 17 Nika Khatiashvili, 18 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 19 Lado Chachanidze, 20 Giorgi Sinauridze, 21 Davit Khuroshvili, 22 Ioane Metreveli, 23 Sandro Todua

Bayonne: 15 Xan Mousques, 14 Victor Hannoun, 13 Arnaud Erbinartegaray, 12 Guillaume Martocq, 11 Nadir Megdoud, 10 Tom Spring, 9 Baptiste Germain, 8 Manex Ariceta, 7 Baptiste Heguy (captain), 6 Rodrigo Bruni, 5 Veikoso Poloniati, 4 Denis Marchois, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Martin Villar
Replacements: 16 Lucas Martin, 17 Swan Cormenier, 18 Pascal Cotet, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Noa Traversier, 21 Baptiste Tilloles, 22. Gabriel Lapegue-lafaye, 23 Cheikh Tiberghien

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant referees: Sara Cox (England), James Clarke (England)
TMO: Dean Richards (England)

Ospreys v Newcastle Falcons

(Liberty Stadium, Swansea - Kick-off: 19.30 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Ospreys by 17 points

Teams

Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Jac Morgan (captain), 5 Will Griffiths, 4 Will Spencer, 3 Rhys Henry, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Tom Botha, 19 James Ratti, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Harri Houston

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Louis Brown, 14 Max Pepper, 13 Oli Spencer, 12 Connor Doherty, 11 Nathan Greenwood, 10 Kieran Wilkinson, 9 James Elliott, 8 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 7 Josh Bainbridge, 6 Philip van der Walt (captain), 5 Adam Scott, 4 John Hawkins, 3 Callum Hancock, 2 Ollie Fletcher, 1 Mike Rewcastle
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Connor Hancock, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Finn Baker, 20 Reuben Parsons, 21 Hugh O'Sullivan, 22 Jack Metcalf, 23 Rhys Beeckmans

Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
Assistant referees: Flavien Hourquet (France), Benoit Albert (France)
TMO: Denis Grenouillet (France)

Montpellier v Lions

(Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier - Kick-off 18.30, 17.30 GMT; 19.30 SA time)

Prediction 

@rugby365com: Montpellier by 6 points

Teams

Montpellier: 15 Anthony Bouthier, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Thomas Darmon, 12 Auguste Cadot, 11 George Bridge, 10 Thomas Vincent, 9 Alexis Bernadet, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Lenni Nouchi (captain), 6 Nicolas Martins, 5 Marco Tauleigne, 4 Youssouf Soucouna, 3 Luka Japaridze, 2 Lyam Akrab, 1 Enzo Forletta,
Replacements: 16 Vano Karkadze, 17 Baptiste Erdocio, 18 Mohamed Haouas, 19 Yacouba Camara, 20 Jules Veyrier, 21 Aurelien Barreau, 22 Arthur Vincent, 23 Pierre Lucas

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Izan Esterhuizen, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Morgan Naudé, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (Wales)

Connacht v Lyon

(The Sportsground Stadium, Galway - Kick-off 22.00 GMT, 23.00 CET)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Connacht by 2 points

Teams

Connacht: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Piers O'Conor, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shane Jennings, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Oisin Dowling, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Peter Dooley,
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Josh Murphy, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Cathal Forde, 23 David Hawkshaw

Lyon: 15 Alexandre Tchaptchet, 14 Semi Radradra, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Thibaut Regard, 11 Vincent Rattez, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9.l Martin Page-Relo, 8 Maxime Gouzou, 7 Marvin Okuya, 6 Steeve Blanc-Mappaz, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Félix Lambey (captain), 3 Irakli Aptsiauri, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Hamza Kaabeche
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Marchand, 17 Lyan Pakihivatau, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Killian Geraci, 20 Pierre-Samuel Pacheco, 21 Charlie Cassang, 22 Alfred Parisien, 23 Martin Meliande

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Rob McDowell (Scotland), Jonny Perriam (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

Sunday, January 12

Cheetahs v Zebre

(NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam - Kick-off 15.00 CET, 16.00 SAST; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction 

@rugby365com: Cheetahs by 5

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Micheal Annies, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Pieter Janse van Vuuren, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Hencus van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Pierre-Raymond Uys, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Litha Nkula, 22 Jandre Nel, 23 Cohen Jasper

Zebre: 15 Giacomo da Re, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Fetuli Paea, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Thomas Dominguez, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Leonardo Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti (captain)
Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Rusiate Nasove, 20 Bautista Stavile Bravin, 21 Ratko Jelic, 22 Damiano Mazza, 23 Scott Gregory

Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Stuart Gaffkin (Ireland), Johnny Erskine (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Dragons v Pau

(Rodney Parade, Newport - Kick-off 17.15 GMT; 18.15 CET)

Prediction 

@rugby365com: Pau by 5

Teams

Dragons: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Harri Ackerman, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Angus O'Brien (captain), 9 Che Hope, 8 Taine Basham, 7 George Young, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Barny Langton-Cryer, 4 Joe Davies, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rodrigo Martinez Manzano
Replacements: 16 James Benjamin, 17 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 18 Dimitri Arhip, 19 George Nott, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Morgan Lloyd, 22 Lloyd Evans, 23 Ewan Rosser

Pau: 15 Clément Mondinat, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Eliott Roudil (captain), 12 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 11 Gregoire Arfeuil, 10 Axel Desperes, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Thibaut Hamonou, 7 Reece Hewat, 6 Mehdi Tlili, 5 Jimi Maximin, 4 Hugo Auradou, 3 Jon Zabala Arrieta, 2 Romain Ruffenach, 1. Remi Seneca
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Daniel Bibi Biziwu, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Remi Picquette, 20 Loic Credoz, 21 Thomas Souverbie, 22 Quentin Valentino, 23 Jack Maddocks

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)