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Preview: Challenge Cup Pool Five

Friday 05th December 2008

The key match here is in the south of France when Saracens travel to Bayonne, who are one of the Top 14's leading lights this season. Elsewhere, Top 14 tail-enders Mont-de-Marsan host surprise victors over Bayonne, Viadana.

Mont-de-Marsan v Viadana

Viadana have Italian international scrum-half Pablo Canavosio lining up in a cosmopolitan team, which also features former Bristol duo Sam Cox at centre and Sean Hohneck at lock.

Mont-de-Marsan: 15 Damien Cler, 14 Jean Marc Mazzonetto, 13 Simon Ternisien, 12 Murphy Taele, 11 Karim Abbad, 10 Yannick Lafforgue, 9 Francois Tandonnet, 8 Marc Giraud, 7 Julien Tastet, 6 Yann Brethous, 5 Jeandré Mynhardt, 4 Laurent Travini, 3 Ben Coutts, 2 Pieter Grobler, 1 Guillaume Leleu.
Replacements: 16 Trevor Leota, 17 Nicolas Etcheverry, 18 Rudolph Berek, 19 Jerome Carre, 20 Lionel Duthil, 21 frederic Urruty, 22 Dimitri Senio.

Viadana: 15 Steven Bortolussi, 14 Samuele Pace, 13 Garry Law, 12 Sam Cox, 11 Isy Coalala, 10 Charles Hore, 9 Pablo Canavosio, 8 Phil Murphy, 7 Lance Persico, 6 Jaco Erasmus, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Sean Hohneck, 3 Ignacio Rouyet, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 1 Luigi Milani.
Replacements: 16 Juan Battilana, 17 Miguel Alonso, 18 Gavin Quinnell, 19 Aldo Birchall, 20 Ross Curle, 21 Roberto Talotti, 22 Andrea Benatti.

Date: Saturday, December 6
Venue: Stade Guy Boniface
Kick-off: 15:30 (14:30 GMT)
Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)

Bayonne v Saracens

Bayonne are at less than full strength for the match, opting to rest their more influential players for the Top 14 campaign which has them very much in contention for a Heineken Cup place next year.

Thus there is no Manny Edmonds at fly-half, no Pepito Elhorga at full-back (he is on the bench though) nor Craig Gower on the wing.

There is also a near-completely new pack from last week's 32-11 defeat at Toulouse. Irish fans may remember lock Mika Tewhata, who felled Brian O'driscoll with a punch shortly before the last World Cup.

Saracens are at full strength, with only Andy Saull out of the forwards a non-international. Outside the forwards, young Noah Cato gets a chance on the wing, as does Alex Goode at full-back.

Bayonne: 15 Mathieu Maillard, 14 Benjamin Lhande, 13 Thibault Lacroix, 12 Vincent Inigo, 11 Benjamin Fall, 10 Daniel Larrechea, 9 Cedric Garcia, 8 Marc Baget, 7 Jacques Deen, 6 Guillaume Bernad, 5 Mikaera Tewhata, 4 Cédric Bergez, 3 Aretz Iguiniz, 2 Arnaud Heguy, 1 Julian Fiorini.
Replacements: 16 Matias Cortese, 17 Pierre Philippe Lafond, 18 Robin Linde, 19 Dwayne Haare, 20 Rémy Martin, 21 Mickael Lopez-Herrero, 22 Pepito Elhorga.

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Kameli Ratuvou, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Andy Farrell, 11 Noah Cato, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Michael Owen, 7 Andy Saull, 6 Wikus Van Heerden, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Steve Borthwick, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Cobus Visagie, 18 Nick Lloyd, 19 Ben Skirving, 20 Mosese Rauluni, 21 Kevin Sorrell, 22 Rodd Penney .

Date: Saturday, December 6
Venue: Stade Jean Dauger
Kick-off: 20:45 (19:45 GMT)
Referee: Andrew McPherson (Scotland)

Euro Challenge Cup 2008/09 Win Outright: Saracens 5/2