Heineken Cup previews

Today

Toulon v Exeter Chiefs,
Stade Félix Mayol (1.35pm). Live on Sky Sports.

Irish outhalf Gareth Steenson is injured so Henry Slade forms a new half-back combination with James Hanks, with Don Armad a third Euro debutant amongst six changes as Exeter face the point of no return. The injured Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha and Craig Burden are ruled out for Toulon, while Matt Giteau starts at outhalf instead of Jonny Wilkinson who is on a strong bench.

TOULON: D Mitchell; A Palisson, M Bastareaud, M Mermoz, D Smith; M Giteau, S Tillous-Borde; F Fresia, J-C Orioli, C Hayman, J Suta, A Williams, J Smith, S Armitage, C Masoe (capt). Replacements: B Noirot, X Chiocci, M Castrogiovanni, V Bruni, D Armitage, J Wilkinson, F Michalak, K Mikautadze.
EXETER CHIEFS: L Arscott; J Nowell, I Whitten, P Dollman, T James; H Slade, H Thomas; B Moon, J Yeandle, H Tui, D Mumm (cap), J Hanks, T Johnson, D Armand, D Ewers. Replacements: C Whitehead, B Sturgess, A Brown, D Welch, B White, W Chudley, C Sweeney, S Hill.

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland).
Betting (P Power): (Exeter +21) 10/11 Toulon, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Exeter.
Forecast: A high-scoring home win.

Saracens v Zebre, Allianz Park (3.00).

Mark McCall shuffles his resources, recalling Owen Farrell at outhalf alongside Richard Wigglesworth. Jacques Burger, Jackson Wray and Billy Vunipola return in the back-row, with Schalk Brits moving to a strong bench that includes Mako Vunipola. Saracens are liable to eclipse last week's 39-10 win.

SARACENS: A Goode; C Ashton, M Bosch, D Taylor, D Strettle; O Farrell, R Wigglesworth; R Barrington, J George, J Johnston, S Borthwick (capt), G Kruis, J Wray, J Burger, B Vunipola. Replacements: Schalk Brits, Mako Vunipola, Matt Stevens, Alistair Hargreaves, Ernst Joubert, Neil de Kock, Charlie Hodgson, Ben Ransom.
ZEBRE: G Palazzani; L Sarto, R Quartaroli, K Ratuvou, G Venditti; L Orquera, B Leonard; M Aguero, A Manici, L Leibson, Q Geldenhuys, M Bortolami (capt), M Bergamasco, N Cattina, S Vunisa. Replacements: D Giazzon, A de Marchi, D Chistolini, M Van Vuren, E Caffini, A Chillon, T Iannone, G Toniolatti.

Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland).
Betting (P Power): (Zebre +36) 10/11 Saracens, 30/1 Draw, 10/11 Zebre.
Forecast: A very high-scoring home win.

Scarlets v ASM Clermont Auvergne, Parc y Scarlets (3.40) Live on Sky Sports.

Clermont's average winning margin in five meetings with the Welsh region is 30 points, and includes 41-0 and 29-0 away wins. Clermont recall Jean-Marcellin Buttin, Mike Delany, Clément Ric, Julien Pierre, Damien Chouly and Julien Bardy.

SCARLETS: L Williams; N Reynolds, G Maule, S Williams, J Williams; R Priestland, G Davies; P John (cap), K Owens, S Lee, J Ball, G Earle, J Turnbull, J Barclay, R McCusker . Replacements: E Phillips, R Evans, R Jones, R Kelly, J Snyman, R Williams, A Thomas, A Warren
ASM Clermont Auvergne: J-M Buttin; S Sivivatu, A Rougerie (capt), R King, N Nalaga; M Delany, T Lacrampe; T Domingo, B Kayser, C Ric, J Cudmore, J Pierre, J Bonnaire, J Bardy, D Chouly. Replacements: T Paulo, R Chaume, V Debaty, N Hines, F Lee, L Radoslavjevic, B James, N Nakaitaci.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).
Betting (P Powers): (Scarlets +8pts) 10/11 Scarlets, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Clermont. Forecast: Clermont to win.
Tomorrow

Harlequins v Racing Metro 92, Twickenham Stoop (12.45). Live on Sky Sports.

Full-back Juan Martín Hernández is the only survivor from Racing's defeated starting line-up last weekend. Jonny Sexton is one of four Lions restored for this game, along with Mike Phillips, Jamie Roberts and Dan Lydiate, which may signal greater intent. Quins' Tim Molenaar replaces the injured Tom Casson at inside centre.

HARLEQUINS: M Brown; C Walker, M Hopper, T Molenaar, S Smith; N Evans, D Care; J Marler, D Ward, W Collier, C Matthews, G Robson, L Wallace, C Robshaw (capt), N Easter. Replacements: J Gray, M Lambert, P Doran-Jones, N Kennedy, J Trayfoot, K Dickson, B Botica, O Lindsay-Hague.
RACING METRO 92: JM Hernandez; A Planté, H Chavancy, J Roberts, V Vakatawa; J Sexton, M Phillips; D Khinchagishvili, V Lacombe, S Tonga'uiha, F Metz, K Ghezal, D Lydiate, A Battut (capt), C Gerondeau. Replacements: J Maurouard, E Ben Arous, L Ducalcon, J Kruger, B Le Roux, M Machenaud, J Wisniewski, B Fall

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).
Betting (P Power): (Racing +9pts) 10/11 Harlequins, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Racing.
Forecast: Harlequins to win.

Gloucester Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby, Kingsholm (3.00).

Tongan international prop Sila Puafisi is in line for a belated Gloucester debut off the bench. Edinburgh makes six changes, including hooker Ross Ford, who assumes the captaincy from Greig Laidlaw, who has been replaced by summer signing Grayson Hart.

GLOUCESTER: R Cook; M Thomas, H Trinder, B Twelvetrees (capt), J May; F Burns, T Knoyle; Y Thomas, D Dawiduik, S Knight, E Stooke, J Hudson, S Kalafamoni, M Kvesic, B Morgan. Replacements: H Edmonds, D Murphy, S Puafisi, T Hicks, M Cox, D Robson, M Tindall, C Sharples.
EDINBURGH: G Tonks; D Fife, J Dominguez, B Atiga, J Cuthbert; HLeonard, G Hart; L Blaauw, R Ford (capt), W Nel, G Gilchrist, I Van Der Westhuizen, T Leonardi, R Grant, Cl Du Preez. Replacements: A Lutui, A Dickinson, G Cross, O Atkins, R Rennie, S Hidalgo-Clyne, L Jones, T Brown

Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Betting (P Power): Edinburgh +13pts) 10/11 Gloucester, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Edinburgh.
Forecast: Gloucester to register another win.

Montpellier v Leicester Tigers, Stade Yves-du-Manoir (4.00, 3.00 Irish). Live on Sky Sports.

Niall Morris returns to the Tigers' side, along with Thomas Waldrom. Fabien Galthie has made 13 changes, which suggests Montpellier minds are on next weekend's Top 14 trip to Toulon.

MONTPELLIER: P Berard; L Dupont, A Tuitavke, W Olivier, Y Artru; E Selponi, B Paillaugue; Y Watremez, M Ivaldi, N Mas, R Tchale Watchou, T Privat, A Bias, M Gorgodze (capt), A Tulou. Replacements: T Bianchin, N Leleimalefaga, P Fa'anunu, J Beattie, M Demarco, E Escande, T Combezou, A Floch.
LEICESTER TIGERS: S Hamilton; N Morris, V Goneva, D Bowden, M Benjamin; T Flood (capt), B Youngs; M Ayerza, T Youngs, D Cole, L Deacon, G Kitchener, J Gibson, J Salvi, T Waldrom. Replacements: N Briggs, B Stankovich, F Balmain, E Slater, J Crane, D Mele, M Smith, R Lamb

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales).
Betting (Paddy Powers): (Leicester +2pts) 10/11 Montpellier, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Leicester.
Forecast: Leicester to win.


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