After a promising start, the French clubs will try to confirm their good performances during this third day of the Challenge Cup against teams with disparate results.
Halfway through this 2024 Challenge Cup campaign, five of the six French teams entered are currently in a qualifying position. During this third day, some could already foresee qualification.
L’Talkfourth in group 1, will open the ball for the Tricolores on Saturday at 2 p.m. in their Aimé-Giral lair against Cardiff. The Catalans will have to be wary of the Welsh who remain in three matches without defeat (two victories and a draw – January 1 at home against the Ospreys – in all competitions), allowing them to occupy third place in the United Rugby Championship . The double winners of the European Challenge in 2010 and 2018 have already achieved the feat of winning twice away this season, against their Welsh rivals the Scarlets and the Newport Dragons.
At the same time, the surprising people of Vannes will host the Edinburgh Scots at the Stade de la Rabine. Both teams have the same number of points at the top of Pool 3 and the winner will take sole control of the group. The Scottish club has had a checkered start to the season, as evidenced by its last two results. The team coached by Mike Blair won 10-7 against Glasgow on December 28, a week after being soundly beaten by the same opponent with a score of 33-14.
The weekend trip is to be credited to theBayonne rowing. The Basques will cross Europe to challenge the Black Lion franchise on its pitch in Tbilisi on Saturday (4:15 p.m.). The Georgian team only has the Challenge Cup left to play this season following their victory in the Rugby Europe Super Cup final on October 20. In the European Challenge, the Georgians have a balanced record following their victory when hosting Vannes and their defeat during the trip to the Scarlets (their last contested meeting).
The favorite MHR, big test for Lou
The Johannesburg Lions travel to GGL Stadium on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. to challenge Montpellier. Twelfth in the URC, the South Africans remain on three consecutive defeats in the championship but have not played since December 21 and their defeat against Stromers (29-10). A record which contrasts with the current very good form of the Héraultais in Top 14.
Undefeated after two days, Lyon could take the lead in their group and move closer to qualifying if they win on Saturday. Karim Ghezal’s men travel to Dexcom Stadium to face the province of Connacht, leader of group 1. Happy in Europe, but struggling in the championship, Bundee Aki’s teammates only occupy thirteenth place in the URC. The Irish also suffered a bitter setback on their own land against Ulster (7-17) on December 28.
The Pau section will close this European Cup day on Sunday afternoon (4:15 p.m.), on the Newport Dragons pitch. The Welsh team is the bad student of this 2024 URC exercise. She occupies last place in the ranking following her sad series of eight consecutive defeats. The latest, the one conceded to the Scarlets on January 1 (32-15). His last and only victory in the competition dates back to September 21. In the Challenge Cup, the Dragons still won on the Newcastle pitch. This success allows them to reach third position in group 3.
Senegal
