Compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN
POOL ONE
Scarlets v Northampton
Parc y Scarlets, today, 1.30, Sky Sports
THE SCARLETS must win this match to keep their playoff chances alive and are able to welcome back teenage international wing George North, who missed the two defeats against Munster. The Saints will still be smarting from their defeat at home to today’s opponents and that will provide motivation aplenty. James Downey is rested but Roger Wilson starts at number eight.
SCARLETS: L Williams; G North, S Williams, J Davies, V Iongi; R Priestland, G Davies; I Thomas, M Rees (capt), D Manu; L Reed, D Day, A Shingler, R McCusker, B Morgan.
NORTHAMPTON: B Foden; C Ashton, G Pisi, T May, V Artemyev; S Myler, M Roberts; S Tonga’uiha, D Hartley (capt), B Mujati; S Manoa, M Sorenson, C Clark, P Dowson, R Wilson.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Verdict: Scarlets.
POOL FOUR
Aironi v Clermont Auvergne
Stadio Brianteo, today, 1.30
AIRONI ENJOYED a morale-boosting victory over Connacht in the PRO12 League last time out but there is little chance of them repeating that feat unless Clermont are way off-kilter. Clermont are not at full strength; the likely first-choice French centres of Wesley Fofana and Aurelian Rougerie are on the bench along with Nathan Hines and Julien Bonnaire. Clermont will be targeting a bonus point.
AIRONI: A Masi; G Toniolatti, R Quartaroli, A Benettin, S Sinoti; N Olivier, T Tebaldi; S Perugini, T D’Apice, L Romano; Q Geldenhuys, M Bortolami (capt), N Cattina, M Bergamasco, J Sole.
ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE: L Byrne; S Sivivatu, R King, G Canale, J Malzieu; B James, M Parra; V Debaty, T Paulo, D Kotze; J Cudmore, L Jacquet, A Lapandry, J Bardy, E Vermeulen (capt).
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales).
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne.
REMAINING FIXTURES
Last night: Ospreys 44, Benetton 17. Tomorrow: Saracens v Biarritz, 3.0pm.
Jan 22nd: Treviso v Saracens, 1.0pm; Biarritz v Ospreys, 1.0pm.
After their macho brace of wins over the Ospreys, Saracens can ensure qualification for the quarter-finals as pool winners at home tomorrow if they beat misfiring Biarritz, for whom this win-or-bust tie is their last shot at any kind of glory this season.
POOL SIX
Harlequins v Gloucester
The Stoop, today, 6.0, Sky Sports
THE HOME side have wobbled a little of late losing two of their last three league matches to Saracens and the Northampton Saints following an unbeaten start to the Premiership. They need to win this match to keep pace with Toulouse – the French side have a superior head-to-head record – and this is a tricky assignment against an in-form Gloucester side. This could be very close.
HARLEQUINS: M Brown; T Williams, M Hopper, J Turner-Hall, U Monye; N Evans, D Care; M Lambert, J Gray, J Johnston; O Kohn, C Matthews; M Faasavalu, C Robshaw (capt), N Easter.
GLOUCESTER: J May; C Sharples, M Tindall, E Fuimaono-Sapolu, J Simpson-Daniel; F Burns, R Lawson; N Wood, S Lawson, D Chistolini; J Hamilton, A Brown; A Strokosch, A Qera, L Narraway (capt). Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France).
Verdict: Harlequins.
POOL THREE
Montpellier v Bath
Stade Yves du Manoir, today, 1.0
THE FRENCH side might have been more committed to winning their final pool match at home having drawn their previous two games against Leinster and Glasgow but once again haven’t fielded their strongest side. Ireland’s Ryan Caldwell starts for Bath but Kiwi World Cup winner Stephen Donald doesn’t. Top points scorer Ollie Barkley is on the bench.
MONTPELLIER: J Peyras Loustalet; T Nagusa, G Doumayrou, T Combezou, P Bérard; S Fernandez, B Paillaugue; M Nariashvili, M Ladhuie, M Bustos, M Demarco, J Tuineau, V Bost, R Martin (capt), M Matadigo.
BATH: N Abendanon; O Woodburn, D Hipkiss, M Banahan, T Biggs; T Heathcote, M Claassens; C Beech, R Batty, D Wilson; D Attwood, R Caldwell, B Skirving, F Louw (capt), S Taylor.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland).
Verdict: Montpellier.
POOL TWO
London Irish v Cardiff Blues
Madejski stadium, today,3.40, Sky Sports
THE BLUES are vying with Edinburgh for top place in the pool and badly need a victory to sustain their playoff hopes. London Irish have faint aspirations of their own but would need to win this match and deny the visitors a bonus point. Bob Casey is on the bench for the home side, so too the Wales-Scotland tug-of-love centre Steven Shingler. Gavin Henson starts for the Blues having recovered from a calf injury.
LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; T Ojo, J Spratt, S Hape, A Thompstone; A Jarvis, D Allinson; C Dermody (capt), D Paice, F Rautenbach; N Kennedy, M Garvey; B Evans, D Sisi, A Gray.
CARDIFF BLUES: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, C Laulala, G Henson, C Czekaj; D Parks, L Williams; G Jenkins, T Thomas, T Filise, B Davies, P Tito (capt), M Paterson, S Warburton, X Rush.
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Verdict: London Irish
POOL FIVE
Saracens v Biarritz Olympique
Vicarage Road, Sunday, 3.0, Sky Sports)
BIARRITZ NEED to win this one but the Mark McCall-coached Saracens are unlikely to let that happen. Biarritz have been in disarray on and off the field this season and it is a little surprising given the nature of this game that they have left Imanol Harinordoquy and Benoit Baby on the bench. Saracens include a couple of England squad new boys in the centre in South African-born Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell. Peter Stringer is on the bench.
SARACENS: A Goode; D Strettle, O Farrell, B Barritt, C Wyles; C Hodgson, B Spencer; R Gill, J Smit, C Nieto; S Borthwick (capt), M Botha, K Brown, A Saull, E Joubert.
BIARRITZ OLMYPIQUE: I Balshaw; T Ngwenya, C Gimenez, D Traille (capt), I Bolakoro; M Bosch, D Yachvili; F Barcella, R Terrain, F Gomez Kodela, J Thion, P Taele, W Lauret, B Guyot, F Faure.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland) .
Verdict: Saracens
REMAINING FIXTURES
Last night: Racing 24, Edinburgh 27.
Today: London Irish v Cardiff, 3.40pm.
Jan 22nd: Cardiff v Racing, 3.15pm; Edinburgh v London Irish, 3.15pm.
Cardiff hold the head-to-head advantage over Edinburgh following their bonus-point defeat in Murrayfield. Thus, if the Blues match Edinburgh’s results over the last two games they will qualify.
