Bordeaux Begles v Clermont: Champions Cup preview
Last Updated: 08/01/16 9:47pm
A win for Bordeaux Begles over Clermont on Friday night would make for a hotly-contested Pool 2 in the Champions Cup.
Bordeaux Begles have an opportunity to move into second place in the group if they manage a convincing victory over their Top 14 rivals.
Raphael Ibanez's side have won six of their seven matches in all competitions at Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas this season, and earned a bonus point in their narrow loss to domestic leaders Racing 92.
The two sides have met once so far this season, in a game that ended in a 26-26 draw at Stade Marcel-Michelin. Since then Bordeaux Begles have beaten Toulouse and the Ospreys, and could cut the gap to two points between all four teams in Pool 2 of the Champions Cup with victory over last season's losing finalists.
Bordeaux Begles have rediscovered their attacking form after a turbulent start to the season, scoring 20 tries in their last seven outings. Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper has added extra edge to their attack, while countryman Sekope Kepu has provided steady feet to their scrum.
It's only Kepu who features this week for the home side, starting in the front-row where he joins Jefferson Poirot and hooker Clement Maynadier for Friday's encounter.
No 8 Matthew Clarkin skippers the side, while Louis Madaule and Luke Braid complete the back-row. Heini Adams partners Lionel Beauxis in the half-backs, and Felix le Bourhis pairs up with Romain Lonca in the midfield.
Clermont's back three features Noa Nakaitaci alongside England's David Strettle and Nick Abendanon, with Jonathan Davies joining Wesley Fofana in the centres.
Camille Lopez links up with scrum-half Morgan Parra, and Damien Chouly captains the side from the base of the scrum.
Bordeaux Begles: 15 Darly Domvo, 14 Metuisela Talebulamaijaina, 13 Felix le Bourhis, 12 Romain Lonca, 11 Jean-Baptiste Dubié, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Heini Adams, 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Clement Maynadier, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Berend Botha, 5 Adam Jaulhac, 6 Louis Madaule, 7 Luke Braid, 8 Matthew Clarkin (c).
Replacements: 16 Ronan Chambord, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Julien le Devedec, 20 Marco Tauleigne, 21 Yann Lesgourgues, 22 Pierre Bernard, 23 Nans Ducuing.
Clermont Auvergne: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 David Strettle, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 1 Thomas Domingo, 2 John Ulugia, 3 Daniel Kotze, 4 Paul Jedrasiak, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 6 Vito Kolelishvili, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 8 Damien Chouly (c).
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Vincent Debaty, 19 Loic Jacquet, 20 Fritz Lee, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic, 22 Pato Fernandez, 23 Aurélien Rougerie.