Challenge Cup – The probable compositions of the French teams before the third day

Perpignan – Cardiff:

The likely starting XV of Perpignan: 15. Allan ; 14. Veredamu, 13. Poulet ou Naqalevu, 12.De La Fuente (ch.), 11. Duguivalu ; 10. McIntyre, 9. Aprasidze ; 7. Della Schiava, 8. Velarte, 6. Bachelier; 5. Warion, 4. Orie ; 3.Roelofse, 2. Montgaillard, 1. Beria ou Devaux.

Substitutes : 16. Lam, 17. Devaux ou Beria, 18. Ceccarelli, 19.Labouteley, 20. Ortombina, 21. Écochard, 22. Aucagne, 23. Hicks.

Cardiff : Ambition on all fronts

Cardiff have made a more than promising start to the championship. Situated on the podium of the United Rugby Championship, behind Leinster and Glasgow, the Welsh are in good tempo, even if the sharing of points conceded against the Ospreys at home (13-13) last week slowed down somewhat this trajectory. A position that head coach Matt Sherratt appreciates, in comparison with a previous edition without flavor and a final twelfth place. The Englishman also aspires to a long run in the Challenge Cup since with six points on the clock, the Cardiffians have their destiny in their hands for the next round. With the return of international third row Toby Faletau and the presence of executives such as fly-half Callum Sheedy, center three-quarter Rey Lee-Lo and winger Josh Adams, the Welsh will have undeniable assets.

Vannes – Edinburgh:

The probable starting XV for Vannes: 15. Duplenne ; 14. Nakosi, 13. Taccola, 12. Saili, 11. Rayasi ; 10.Cotarmanac’h, 9. Le Bail; 7. Boulier, 8. Augry, 6. Edwards (cap.) ; 5.Uhila, 4. T.Mézou or Bresler ; 3. Tafili, 2. Béziat, 1. Moukoro.

Substitutes : 16. Leafa, 17. Berguet, 18. Bourgeois, 19.Van der Merwe or T.Mézou, 20. Augry, 21. Parete, 22. Varney, 23. Debaes or Ayarza.

Edinburgh: Ben Vellacott returns

Defeated 20-15 against Gloucester in the first day, the Scots did not field their best possible team. But in Brittany, Edinburgh will be able to count on four major players, back in great shape: Vellacott, Paterson, Hill and Ashman. They benefited from a week’s rest after the victory against Glasgow at Murrayfield in front of more than 40,000 spectators. Direct question to Mathieu Cidre, forwards coach: “Are you going to sell this match as a final to your players against Edinburgh?” Answer : “I wouldn’t say a final, maybe a half, if we want to qualify it like that. In any case, Bayonne is traveling to Tbilisi, we don’t know if they’re going to go there to play for it and we don’t know In what state of mind will Edinburgh come to us? They didn’t play last week. I don’t think they’ll play there again, if they have a match next week, we know that the list of forty or so. forty-five players who are going to be summoned will fall. Even if there is not good content, what is needed is a good result. We must win matches.

Black Lion – Bayonne :

Black Lion : Experience despite everything

To think that the Georgian team is necessarily within its reach would be a mistake for Bayonne. But Patat’s men know it. For this, they can simply refer to the defeat of Vannes against this franchise which houses half of the national team. And also to his resistance against the Scarlets (36-18 defeat). The manager also warned his players: “We will play a physical team, in a context that will be special.” The Black Lion, coached by Richard Cockerill, were invited to the Challenge Cup after dominating the Rugby Europe Super Cup, which brings together emerging countries, during the last four editions. A solid pack, a formidable hinge, with an efficient flyhalf, Luka Matkava, will be the assets of this team which will want to remain undefeated at home.

Bayonne’s probable starting XV : 15. Mousques ; 14. Megdoud, 13. Erbinartegaray, 12.Martocq, 11. Hannoun ; 10. T. Spring, 9. Germain ; 7. Héguy (cap.), 8. Ariceta, 6. Bruni; 5. Poloniati, 4. Marchois ; 3. Scholtz, 2. Van Jaarsveld, 1. Villar.

Substitutes : 16. Martin, 17. Cormenier, 18. Cotet, 19. Paulos, 20. Traversier, 21. Tilloles, 22. Tiberghien, 23. Lapègue.

Montpellier – Lions :

Montpellier’s probable starting XV: 15. Bouthier; 14. Tambwe, 13. Darmon, 12. Cadot, 11. Bridge; 10. T. Vincent, 9. Bernadet; 7. Martins, 8. Simmonds, 6. Nouchi (cap.); 5. Tauleigne, 4. Soucouna; 3. Japaridze, 2. Akrab, 1.Forletta.

Substitutes: 15. Bouthier; 14. Tambwe, 13. Darmon, 12. Cadot, 11. Bridge; 10. T. Vincent, 9. Bernadet; 7. Martins, 8. Simmonds, 6. Nouchi (cap.); 5. Tauleigne, 4. Soucouna; 3. Japaridze, 2. Akrab, 1.Forletta.

Lions : A strong spine

After a successful but ultimately misleading start to the season thanks to two receptions followed by two trips to weak teams (Dragons and Zebre), the Lions then lost against Leinster, Munster and the Stormers in the URC. However, they are still alive in the Challenge Cup thanks to their victory against the Section Paloise acquired at the end of a festival of tests (43-35). On the squad side, the Lions do not have a squad rich in stars as is the case for the Sharks, the Bulls or the Stormers. This is even the weakest squad of the four. On the other hand, this group knows each other well and has solid collective benchmarks, particularly at the level of its backbone made up of hooker PJ Botha, its third line center Francke Horn, its hinge Van der Berg-Francis, center Marius Louw and from the back Tapiwa Mafura.

Connacht – Lyon :

Connacht : Heffernan returns, JJHanrahan withdraws

The province of Connacht has started the year rather well since it has formalized the extensions, for the next two seasons, of two of its executives, number 8 Paul Boyle (best try scorer for a forward in the history of the Connacht with 25 goals in 102 matches) and scrum-half Ben Murphy, who arrived this summer from Leinster. Good news followed, with the scheduled returns of hooker Dave Heffernan (calf), second row Joe Joyce (foot) and flanker Oisín McCormack (calf), all applying. On the other hand, the second row Darragh Murray (Achilles tendon) and the third row Seán O’Brien (hit in the ischio and which has nothing to do with his famous namesake) had to withdraw and join the infirmary in the company of winger Shayne Bolton (foot), as well as fly-half and ex-Clermont player JJ Hanrahan (knee).

Lyon’s probable starting XV: 15.Tchaptchet; 14.Radradra, 13.Maraku, 12.Regard, 11.Rattez; 10.F. Smith, 9.Page-Relo; 7.White-Mappaz, 8.Gouzou, 6.Coming; 5.Lavanini, 4.Lambey (cap.); 3.Aptsiauri, 2.Matavesi, 1.Cabbage.

Substitutes: 16.Charcosset, 17.Pakihivatau ou Gomes Sa, 18.Ainsley, 19.Geraci, 20.Pacheco, 21.Cassang, 21.Méliande, 23.Parisien.

Newport Dragons – Pau

Newport Dragons : Roddhri Williams withdraws

The Dragons are last in the URC, with only one victory in nine games. We remind you that coach Dai Flanagan did not resist this difficult journey. He left the franchise by mutual consent and it was therefore his assistant Filo Tiatia, ex-All Black, who prepared the team to face Pau. But they won at Newcastle (22-14) in the Challenge Cup and they were not ridiculous against Montpellier (14-18) at Rodney Parade. The men of Newport feel capable of achieving something if the Palois are not sufficiently concentrated. But international scrum-half Rodhri Williams will not be there, the staff announced. International hooker Eliott Dee was also doubtful due to a sore ankle.

Pau’s probable starting XV: 15. Mondinat ; 14.Attissogbe, 13. Roudil (cap.), 12. Brau-Boirie, 11.Arfeuil ; 10. Despérès, 9.Souverbie; 7.Hewat, 8. Hamonou, 6.Tlili ; 5.J.Maximin, 4.H.Auradou ; 3. Zabala, 2. Ruffenach, 1.Seneca.

Substitutes : 16. Jooste, 17.Bibi Biziwu, 18. H. Williams, 19.Picquette, 20.Credoz, 21.Souverbie, 22. Valentino, 23.Maddocks.