Champions Cup Round 1 - Preview
Northampton Saints vs Racing 92
Friday 10th December
Franklin’s Gardens
20:00 GMT
The in-form Saints host the star-studded Parisian giants in the opening fixture of the 2021/22 Champions Cup. In what is set to be a spectacular clash at the Garden’s. Northampton are sitting pretty in third spot in the Gallagher Premiership table, just two points adrift of second spot. Conversely, the Parisians have lost their last three fixtures in the Top 14 and are in 8th spot, they’ll be looking to demonstrate that their star-studded squad will click on the European stage.
Racing 92 will arrive at the Gardens with a fully international backline that possesses class, pure talent and a lot of power. The finishing prowess of Imhoff and Thomas will be fed from the mercurial talents of Russell and Beale, thus Northampton’s task will be to aggressively deny these finishers their opportunities.
Northampton’s Courtney Lawes is still missing from the matchday 23 and will once again be replaced by Karl Wilkins, whilst Ratuniyarawa and Auterac return to the starting lineup after featuring from the bench last week.
Northampton do possess their own weapons, and though less ‘mercurial’ in playing style they have demonstrated that their attack is diverse, direct and hard to stop. The ball-carrying and offloading of Augustus, Ludlam and Matavesi have been paired with great ruck speed and excellent service by the Gallagher Premiership player of the month Alex Mitchell. Tommy Freeman has been in great form combining with Furbank and Skosan to form a formidable trio of finishers. Furthermore, the midfield pairing of Dingwall and Proctor have been water-tight in defense and great attacking distributors.
Prediction: Saints 27 - 25 Racing 92
Cardiff Rugby vs Stade Toulousain
Saturday 11th December
Cardiff Arms Park
13:00 GMT
The reigning Champions Cup winners Toulouse travel to a Covid-struck Cardiff side in what is likely to be a lopsided affair. The French Giants are second in the Top14, won the European Double last year and Antoine Dupont has been named the World Rugby Player of the Year. Cardiff have fared relatively well in the URC sitting in the middle of the pack until their season was derailed as the team was stuck in South Africa with some positive COVID tests.
The Welsh side will look at this as an opportunity to give some academy youngsters an opportunity on the biggest club stage against one of the best clubs. The lineup features a mixture of Welsh internationals in Captain Ellis Jenkins, Willis Halaholo and Josh Adams, a large contingent of academy players plus a group of semi-professional players who will have an opportunity to show their capabilities.
Ugo Mola has named a star studded side as Toulouse look to start off their campaign in explosive fashion in their bid to become back-to-back European champions. The pack boasts an all-international front row Baille and Mauvaka packdown with the experienced All Black Charlie Faumuina. Flament returns to the row pairing with Meafou and the backrow is unchanged from last week’s loss to Bordeaux.
2021 World Player of the Year Antione Dupont captains the side at scrum-half, he and Romain Ntamack continue their formidable 9-10 partnership. Matthis Lebel starts on the wing after making his international debut for France just a few weeks ago. Maxime Medard continues to prove that he ages like a fine wine as the 35-year-old starts at full-back, in what is now his 18th season at the club.
Prediction: Cardiff 15 - 41 Toulouse
Union Bordeaux-Begles vs Leicester Tigers
Saturday 11th December
Stade Chaban-Delmas
15:15 GMT
The Top of the crop in the Top 14 and Premiership square off in a Champions Cup round 1 match for the ages. Bordeaux and Leicester have both gone through a bit of a renaissance and are currently in scintillating form - both having beaten last year’s respective champions in last week’s fixtures.
The Tigers travel to Bordeaux undefeated in the 2021/22 campaign so far and will look to get their European return back on track. The former giants of European rugby are back and their return to the top flight of European rugby marks the beginning of the Borthwick era at the top level. Their playing style is primed for European greatness again, based on the toughest of defences, they play a territory and power game. Ford’s deft kicking game and his ability to unleash strong ball-carriers to keep their opposition playing out of their own half and constantly under pressure.
The Tigers have heavily rotated for their opening European venture with Steve Borthwick making his intentions clear that the Premiership is priority number one. Julian Montoya, Hanro Liebenberg, Marco Van Staden, Ben Youngs, Nemani Nadolo, Dan Kelly, Matias Moroni and Freddie Steward are all absent for this fixture. However, the depth of this squad means that the Tigers still travel with a very competitive outfit.
Bordeaux, have been equally exceptional this season, but with a very different formula. Their mercurial 10 Jalibert has been a key ingredient to their success and his absence through injury will no doubt make this a tougher task. However, Trinh-Duc still offers an international calibre replacement with an abundance of experience. Young Italian international Federico Mori is also one to watch as his explosive running is preferred to the Argentinian pocket-rocket Santiago Cordero. Dubie starts ahead of Seuteni at 13 and Ducuing replaces Buros at full back are the other changes in the backline.
The forwards also see a host of changes, with Picamoles, Woki and Kane Douglas the only survivors from last week’s starting XV. Big Ben Tameifuna features on the tighthead and the Tongan international will be engaged in a great tighthead battle with young Joe Heyes.
Prediction: Bordeaux 27 - 16 Leicester Tigers
Leinster Rugby vs Bath Rugby
Saturday 11th December
Aviva Stadium
15:15 GMT
The Blue machine that is Leinster take on a struggling Bath on Saturday at the Aviva. The Irishmen have been in typically exceptional form and possess an abundance of internationals in their squad. Bath, on the other hand, giants of English rugby in their own right, are not in a period of form at all. Yet to win a Premiership match this season, Stuart Hooper’s side is filled with International calibre talent but they have not managed to put it together yet. For this fixture the West Country side will be without their talisman in Sam Underhill, another blow is that Jonathan Joseph is also unavailable. Only 2 changes have been made from their loss to Northampton last week with Jacques Du Toit getting a start at hooker and former England 7s star Richard De Carpentier starting at openside flanker in place of Underhill.
Leinster have named a side that wouldn’t look out of place wearing the green of Ireland. Nine players in Leinster’s matchday squad were part of Ireland’s win against the All Blacks just over a month ago. The pack boasts six players that featured for Ireland in the Autumn Nations Series. Porter, Kelleher and Furlong make up one of the best club front rows in World Rugby, they’re joined by Ross Moloney and Ryan Baird in behind them. In the back row, Rhys Ruddock captains the side at blindside flanker with Josh Van Der Flier and Caelan Doris both looking to continue their career best form.
Outside of the pack, Gibson-Park is back from injury to pair young Ross Byrne in the halves. In Robbie Henshaw’s absence, Ciaran Frawley starts at inside centre, he will combine with Garry Ringrose to form an incredible centre pairing. James Lowe, Jordan Larmour and Hugo Keenan start in the back 3 to round off an unbelievably talented squad who will be tipped by most to cruise past a struggling Bath side.
Prediction: Leinster 47 - 10 Bath
ASM Clermont Auvergne vs Ulster Rugby
Saturday 11th December
Stade Marcel-Michelin
17:30 GMT
Ulster travel to the Stade Marcel-Michelin in pursuit of an early away scalp. They will be eager to kick off their European campaign with a statement win in a bid to break their European drought dating back to 1999. Clermont, who broke their drought in 2017 after losing three Champions Cup finals since 2013 will also be looking to get back in the conversation of the upper echelon of Club Rugby.
The hosts ‘have lost their last three home games in a row in the Heineken Champions Cup’ something that had not happened at the Marcel-Michelin for 41 of their previous home games. The hosts will be looking to resurrect the fortress that the Marcel-Michelin once was, reminiscing of the 77 game four-and-a-half year home win streak broken by Castres in 2014.
This week, Yato and Slimani return to the starting XV with the former moving Van Tonder from openside to the second-row. The menacing ‘Les Jaunards’ pack will look to neutralise the Ulster-debut of South African International Duane Vermeulen.
In the backline, JJ Hanrahan takes the reins at 10 from Camille Lopez headlining a major backline reshuffle. Vili combines with Barraque in the centres whilst Tiberghien shifts to fullback to cover the absences of Moala and Matsushima. Alivereti Raka also shifts to the left wing as Penaud goes back to the 14 jersey. Viallard is the only backline player that maintains the same jersey from last week.
Ulster will be looking to bounce back from their loss against Ospreys last week. Duane Vermeulen’s long awaited debut for the Ulstermen will certainly provide a spark that the whole team can use to propel them to a massive away scalp. Rea, Herring and Warwick are the other three new starters featuring this week.
In the backs, Cooney and Burns continue their partnership, supported by the ever-reliable McCloskey at 12. Hume is the only change in the backs, replacing Angus Curtis. McIlroy, Baloucoune and Mike Lowry form the back three full of poise and finishing prowess.
Prediction: Clermont Auvergne 29 - 30 Ulster
Exeter Chiefs vs Montpellier Herault Rugby
Saturday 11th December
Sandy Park
20:00 GMT
The Chiefs will be setting their sights on what was once theirs in 2020. The Champions Cup is the pinnacle of European rugby and despite a subpar start to the season, the Chiefs are starting to get into the kind of form that once brought them to the top of Europe. Montpellier are hot property at the moment, off the back of a Challenge Cup victory in 2021, they’ve continued their form into the 21/22 campaign. The likes of new signings Garbisi and Zach Mercer propelling ‘Les Cistes’ to third in the Top 14 before Christmas. Yet they’ll have to do without a large contingent of their usual campaigners having opted to rest them and focus on the Top 14.
Sandy Park has been a fortress for Chiefs in recent years, however, this season they have already amassed three home defeats. Montpellier will still face the daunting travel to the west country and a scalp would be very significant. Exeter have named a full strength lineup, one with few changes from last week’s win over Saracens. Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Gray and Jonny Hill all start again after making their return from injury last week. The ever present Dave Ewers and Sam Simmonds link up in the back row, they are joined by Sam Skinner who makes a surprise appearance in the 7 jersey. In the backs, Joe Simmonds is once again favoured at fly-half after his excellent performance last week. The usual suspects in Slade, Nowell, O’Flaherty, Maunder, Whitten and Hogg round out the remainder of the backline.
Montpellier have opted to play a rotated side for their trip to Sandy Park. The French side will be without their Springbok halfback duo of Cobus Reinach and Handre Pollard, Garbisi will also not make the trip. Kelian Galletier is tasked with captaining the side, he takes up the number 8 jersey. Australian international Brandon Paenga-Amosa also gets a long awaited start at hooker for his new side.
Prediction: Exeter Chiefs 37 - 12 Montpellier
Ospreys vs Sale Sharks
Sunday 12th December
Swansea.com Stadium
13:00 GMT
The Sale Sharks make the trip down to Swansea to take on Ospreys in the opening round of the Champions Cup. These sides are on opposite ends of the scale in their starts to this season. Sale Sharks have been underwhelming to say the least, after many tipped them to be Premiership contenders, their 6 losses in 9 games has turned them into Premiership pretenders. Ospreys on the other hand have won five of their first seven URC games including impressive wins over Ulster and Munster.
Toby Booth will be hoping his side can carry their domestic form over into the Champions Cup and their home opener is a real opportunity to make a statement. A side packed with experience has been named in their bid to kick off their campaign with a win. Up front, Welsh Internationals Gareth Thomas, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard all feature in the side. Off season signing Jac Morgan links up with Will Griffiths and Morgan Morris to form a young yet dynamic back row with all three having high expectations for the future. Rhys Webb captains the side from scrum-half, he links up with Gareth Anscombe who makes his first appearance since his endeavours with Wales in the Autumn. Another Kiwi-turned-Welsh Michael Collins makes back to back starts since returning from injury, he’ll look to pick up from where he left off as he was in scintillating form during the early rounds. Collins’ inclusion means that Owen Watkin, who has started every Ospreys game this season, shifts back into his more familiar position at inside centre. Veteran Alex Cuthbert also starts on the wing looking to add on to his rich vein of form with another good performance.
Sale’s injury and international commitments has meant that squad availability has suffered, and Sharks fans haven’t been able to see their squad at full strength at any point this season. However, finally Alex Sanderson has been able to name a lineup that is pretty close to fully loaded. Aside from Akker Van Der Merwe, Manu Tuilagi and Byron McGuigan, Sale have their best squad out for this European clash. The front-row features two newly capped youngsters, local-hero Bevan Rodd and Ewan Ashman - who will be looking to replicate his scoring prowess in the Scotland jersey. Crucially, Nick Schonert returns at tighthead, he has been the pillar of this pack at scrum time and they have always suffered in his sporadic absence this season. The pack's back 5 is fully loaded, the South African trio of De Jager and the Du Preez twins make up the lock partnership and number 8 role, with the Curry twins on the flanks. This pack can bully teams and that will be their aim against Ospreys.
The backs finally have the Quirke-MacGinty combo which has been elusive with injuries at different stages to both their young and dynamic 9 and their level-headed playmaker. Janse Van Rensburg at 12 is partnered by another Du Preez brother, but in an unusual 13 role. Yarde, Roebuck and Hammersely round out the back three with the latter being the only player in this backline to have featured throughout the season so far.
Prediction: Ospreys 22 - 24 Sale Sharks
Connacht Rugby vs Stade Francais Paris
Sunday 12th December
The Sportsground
13:00 GMT
The hills of Galway welcome the flamboyant pink Parisians. Connacht come into this fixture after suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Leinster, whilst Stade Francais have just come off an important and hard-fought victory over La Rochelle. Both sides are sitting in the middle of their respective domestic league tables, however Stade Francais are underachieving whilst the Galway boys are constantly punching above their weight and budget.
Andy Friend has made six changes to his starting lineup from their loss to Leinster last week. In the tight, Shane Delahunt is promoted from the bench and starts at hooker over Dave Heffernan. The reliable and familiar duo of Matthew Burke and Finlay Bealham start either side of Delahunt to form a powerful front row. In behind them, Niall Murray comes in to partner Oisin Dowling at lock. Australian Jarrad Butler wears the number 8 jersey, he links up with Conor Oliver and Cian Prendergast in the back row.
A late amendment to the team sheet sees Caolin Blade move into the starting lineup after Kieron Marmion was initially named to start. Captain Jack Carty unsurprisingly starts at fly-half, he’ll be hoping to continue his red-hot form going into Europe. Mack Hansen has been ruled out for the clash after also initially being named to start, he’s replaced by fellow Aussie John Porch. Sammy Arnold and Shayne Bolton link up in the centres, both have been in excellent form this season and will be relied upon to keep the powerful Ngani Laumape in check opposite them. Young Oran McNulty starts for the second consecutive week at fullback.
The flamboyant Parisian guests have heavily rotated their squad from last week’s home win against La Rochelle. Australian international hooker Tolu Latu and Argentinian back-row Marcos Kremer are the key additions to the pack. In the backline, Nico Sanchez captains the side in the 10 jersey and has All Black Ngani Laumape ready to be unleashed on his outside jersey. Another key player will be Telusa Veainu, the Tongan is a hot-stepper that can break a game apart from anywhere - keep an eye on the long-range attacks if any poor kicks are collected at the back.
Prediction: Connacht 30 - 19 Stade Francais
Wasps Rugby vs Munster Rugby
Sunday 12th December
Coventry Building Society Arena
15:15 GMT
Two historically prolific sides in Europe face off on Sunday afternoon as the CBS Arena presents Wasps vs Munster. The home side come into the European window off the back of a poor start in the Premiership. With just three wins from their nine fixtures, this is a pivotal period for Lee Blackett’s side in their bid to build momentum going into 2022.
For this clash, Wasps go with the rotated front row of West, Frost and Alo with the usual starters in Hislop, Oghre and Toomaga-Allen primed to make late impacts off the bench. The big news is that two weeks after his return to action from the bench, Alfie Barbeary starts at blindside flanker. The newly converted back rower has been as destructive as ever in his two stints off the bench since his return from injury. Brad Shields skippers the side, he and Tom Willis join Barbeary to make up the back row. Elsewhere, young Sam Woolstenholme gets a start at scrum-half with Dan Robson still absent, he partners Jacob Umaga in the halves. Michael Le Bourgeois is the only other change in the backline from last week’s loss against Worcester, he returns from injury to fill the vacant 13 jersey.
Like other teams in the URC that made the trip to South Africa, Munster have a large group of players out who are still in quarantine upon their return to Ireland. Johan Van Graan has handed an opportunity to 12 new players that make their club debut in this fixture. The good news for Munster fans is that there are still a handful of world class players fit to make the trip to Coventry.
The forward pack is headlined by two British and Irish Lions in Tadhg Beirne and club stalwart Peter O’Mahoney. Amongst them, Dave Kilcoyne is the only other forward not making his debut with the remaining 5 forwards all 22 years old or younger. Munster fans will be excited for Daniel Okeke to make his debut at number 8, the 19 year old has been tipped by many to burst onto the stage in the future. Fortunately for Munster, the lack of experience in the forward pack is not mirrored in the backline.
The usual halfback pairing of Conor Murray and Joey Carbery start, they will have a massive job on their hands to marshall those young forwards around and get their attack clicking. World Cup winner and recent nominee for South African player of the year Damian De Allende makes his return at inside centre, he’s joined by Chris Farrell in the 13 jersey. Seasoned wingers Keith Earls and Andrew Conway start on either wing, with many new combinations in attack, expect those two to be tasked with winning aerial battles against Wasps wingers notorious for having their high ball troubles.
Prediction: Wasps 27 - 28 Munster
Stade Rochelais vs Glasgow Warriors
Sunday 12th December
Stade Marcel Deflandre
15:15 GMT
The hostile Stade Marcel Deflandre hosts the Glasgow Warriors in a titanic round 1 fixture between the Top 14’s overachievers and Scotland’s top of the crop. Both Clubs are coming into this fixture off close losses to opponents they should have beaten on paper, so they’ll be looking to spring back into form and kickoff their European campaigns to the tune of a win.
La Rochelle were finalists last year, losing to Toulouse in what was an incredible 14-man performance. They will feel that was an opportunity gone begging and will no doubt look to rectify and mount another serious challenge for the top gong. Whilst their domestic campaign has not commenced the way it did last season, they are still top dogs on their day. The ones to watch are French tighthead Uini Atonio, Australian lock Will-Skelton and the back row duo of Victor Vito and Gregory Alldritt who captains the side. The Kiwi duo of Kerr-Barlow and West are tasked with steering the Black and Yellow ship of La Rochelle. Levani Botia provides the power at 12 and Brice Dulin the guile and silky runs from the back. This side is still one that should be taken very seriously.
Glasgow are peppered with Scotland Internationals and youngsters that make them a serious threat in their own right. The difficulty of travelling across the channel skews the fixture in favour of the hosts but it would not be that way had this opening fixture been at the reverse venues. An all-Scotland front-row headlines a pack that also features Richie Gray, Matt Fagerson and the Australian no.8 Jack Dempsey. In the backs Ross Thompson has been newly capped by Scotland and is turning into sensation rather than prospect with every cap that he earns. Ali Price captains the Scottish side from the base of the ruck and will be key in controlling tempo against a side that is very tough to stop when it gets rolling.
Prediction: La Rochelle 35 - 26 Glasgow Warriors
Castres Olympique vs Harlequins
Sunday 12th December
Stade Pierre Fabre
17:30 GMT
Castres host Quins in what might just be the most entertaining fixture of the Champions Cup Round 1. Castres like Quins have won just over 50% of their games and they both like to play positive running, offloading rugby. Castres are the team that kicks the least in the Top 14 and this shapes up to make it a game of like for like where both teams try to out-score each other in 7-pointers.
The hosts have opted for a full haul of their starting XV. Flanker Champion de Crespigny and No.8 Teariki Ben Nicholas are the only two starters that keep their role in the starting XV for this Heineken Champions Cup fixture. Club stalwarts Rory Kockott and experienced campaigner Benjamin Urdapilletta combine in the halves are tasked with steering this team. Filipo Nakosi has yet to score a try this season, but the talented Fijian will still be one to watchout for in this fixture.
The visitors are coming all-guns blazing and will be looking to bring the form that has brought them to the top of the Premiership in the last 12 months. They have been poor travellers in Europe of late and will certainly be looking to elevate their European form this year. Lawday at openside ahead of Kenningham is the only change to what has been a very consistent forward pack selection this season. The backline is unchanged from last week with the fire and ice duo of Care and Smith combining in the halves. They will be looking to have their fingerprints all over this game.
Prediction: Castres 24 - 27 Harlequins