A look ahead to the weekend matches in the Heineken Cup
TODAY
Pool 1
Saracens v Racing Metro 92
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, 3.40pm – Live Sky Sports 1/FR2
Saracens are expected to properly expose the weaknesses shown by Racing in the initial stages against Munster. Having dismantled Edinburgh at Murrayfield, Saracens continue with Charlie Hodgson at outhalf but Owen Farrell returns to the team at outside centre. Racing make a number of switches but Olly Barkely remains at 10 with Juan Martin Hernandez shifting from centre to fullback.
SARACENS: A Goode; C Ashton, O Farrell, B Barritt, C Wyles; C Hodgson, N de Kock; R Gill, S Brits, M Stevens; S Borthwick (c), M Botha; K Brown, W Fraser, J Wray.
RACING METRO 92: JM Hernandez; B Fall, M Bergamasco, F Estebanez, J Imhoff; O Barkley, M Machenaud; A Lo Cicero, Di Szarzewski, L Ducalcon; K Ghezal, F C Van der Merwe; A Battut, B Le Roux, J Cronje (c).
Referee: N Owens (Wales).
Pool 3
Biarritz v Zebre
Parc des Sports Aguilera, 6pm – Live Canal+
A five-point banker, especially if Biarritz are to challenge Harlequins for outright winner of this Pool. The French outfit are still without Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili but will still prevail here.
BIARRITZ: I Balshaw; T Ngwenya, S Burotu, D Traille (c), A Brew; J P Barraque, Y Lesgourgues; F Barcella, B August, F Gomez Kodela; E Lund, P Taele; M Lund, W Lauret, R Lakafia.
ZEBRE: R Trevisan; G Venditti, G Garcia (c), D Halangahu, M Pratichetti; L Orquera, L Martinelli; S Perugini, C Festuccia, L Redolfini; Q Geldenhuys, M van Vuuren; F Ferrarini, M Bergamasco, D van Schalkwyk.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland).
Pool 2
Benetton Treviso v Toulouse
Stadio Comunale di Monigo, 1.35 – Sky Italia/Canal+
Toulouse were frighteningly powerful against the Leicester Tigers in round one and Treviso are in for a long and painful afternoon.
TREVISO: L McLean; G Toniolatti, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi, T Iannone; Kr Burton, T Botes; M Rizzo, L Ghiraldini, L Cittadini; A Pavanello (c), F Minto; M Vosawai, A Zanni, R Barbieri.
TOULOUSE: Y Huget; V Clerc, F Fritz, G Fickou, T Matanavou; L McAlister, J M Doussain; J-B Poux, C Tolofua, Y Montes; R Millo-Chluski, P Albacete; J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir (c), L Picamoles.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales).
Pool 5
Exeter Chiefs v Clermont
Sandy Park, 6pm – Sky Sports 1
Despite impressive displays by Exeter in recent weeks against Harlequins and Leinster this could be where reality bites. Scarlets’ challenge last week was ruined by the sending off of Morgan Stoddart but Clermont were relentless. Their squad is immense and they are targeting European glory. Sandy Park is a fortress but Clermont should sack it today.
EXETER CHIEFS: L Arscott; I Whitten, P Dollman, J Shoemark, M Jess; G Steenson, H Thomas; B Sturgess, S Alcott, C Rimmer; T Hayes (c), D Mumm; T Johnson, J Scaysbrook, R Baxter.
CLERMONT AUVERGNE: L Byrne; S Sivivatu, A Rougerie (c), W Fofana, N Nalaga; B James, M Parra; T Domingo, B Kayser, D Zirakashvili; J Cudmore, J Pierre; G Vosloo, J Bonnaire, D Chouly.
Referee: J Lacey (Ireland).
TOMORROW
Pool 2
Leicester Tigers v Ospreys
Welford Road, 3pm, Sky Sports 2
Wounded Leicester are already in a do-or-die situation but the Ospreys pack includes the Jones trio – Adam, Ryan and Alun Wyn – who could match the Tigers in a war of attrition. The Tigers are unbeaten in their 19 European home games but there is potential for a surprise if the Welsh can reach the standard seen in last season’s Pro 12 final.
LEICESTER TIGERS: S Hamilton; N Morris, M Tuilagi, A Allen, V Goneva; T Flood, B Youngs; L Mulipola, T Youngs, D Cole; G Kitchener, G Parling; S Mafi, T Waldrom, J Crane (c).
OSPREYS: R Fussell; H Dirksen, A Bishop, A Beck, E Walker; D Biggar, K FotualiI; R Bevington, R Hibbard, A Jones; A Wyn Jones (c), I Evans; R Jones, Jn Tipuric, J Thomas.
Referee: R Poite (France).
Pool 6
Cardiff Blues v Toulon
Cardiff Arms Park, 12.45 – Sky Sports 2 (red button)
Cardiff will have a hot welcome in store for big-spending Toulon who include Gethin Jenkins at loosehead prop. Andrew Sheridan and Carl Hayman – the dream team of frontrowers – are in reserve but guided around by Jonny Wilkinson this pack still contains Bakkies Botha, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Chris Masoe. Ridiculous!
Sam Warburton and friends will ensure a hugely physical contest as Cardiff simply must win after defeat to Sale. But the Toulon pack will get enough ball to Delon Armitage and Matt Giteau a marked contrast at 12 to Jamie Roberts for the Blues. Toulon to prevail. Just.
CARDIFF BLUES: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, G Evans, J Roberts, T James; C Sweeney, L Williams; T Filise, M Breeze, B Bourrust; B Davies, L Reed; J Navidi, S Warburton, A Pretorius (c).
TOULON: D Armitage; V Martin, M Bastareaud, M Giteau, D Smith; J Wilkinson (c), F Michalak; G Jenkins, M Ivaldi, D Kubriashvili; B Botha, J Suta; J M Fernandez Lobbe, S Armitage, C Masoe.
Referee: G Clancy (Ireland).
Pool 6
Montpellier v Sale Sharks
Stade Yves Du Manoir, 3pm – Sky Sports 2 (red button)
After an understrength side last week almost snatched a bonus point off Toulon, Fabien Galthie has reverted to frontliners like Fulgence Ouedraogo and Mamuka Gorgodze as they seek to expose what seems to be a number of weak points in this Sale team.
MONTPELLIER: L Amorosino; P Berard, T Nagusa, S Hape, M Bustos Moyano; F Trinh-Duc, J Tomas; J Figallo, A Creevy, M Bustos; A Fakate, T Privat; F Ouedraogo (c), M Gorgodze, J Beattie.
SALE SHARKS: R Miller; T Brady, W Addison, M Jennings, M Cueto; D Cipriani, C Willis; E Roberts, J Ward, T Buckley; F McKenzie, K Myall; J Gaskell, D Seymour (c), M Easter. Referee: N Paterson (Scotland).
