Amlin Challenge Cup match preview: Bordeaux-Begles v Gloucester
Gloucester will look to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup when they tackle Bordeaux.
Last Updated: 12/01/13 1:51pm
Gloucester toppled the Top 14 outfit 25-13 at Kingsholm but director of rugby Nigel Davies is taking nothing for granted.
He has made seven changes to his line-up, with Jonny May, Henry Trinder, Tim Molenaar, Dan Robson, Darren Dawidiuk, Dario Chistolini and skipper Jim Hamilton all starting.
Bordeaux have lost six successive games in the Amlin Challenge Cup encounters - with defeat on Friday breaking the record for the worst losing streak in the tournament.
Bordeaux have made wholesale changes for the match with only Rafael Carballo retaining his place after the 26-16 loss to Perpignan last time out.
Hugh Chalmers, Felix Le Bourhis and Louis Madaule all drop to the bench - while Lachie Munro, Damien Larrieu and Rohan Kitshoff among those coming into the starting XV.
Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Lachie Munro, 14 Rafael Carballo, 13 Charles Brousse, 12 Michel Denetre, 11 Thierry Brana, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Julien Seron, 8 Damien Larrieu, 7 Rohan Kitshoff, 6 Gauthier Gibouin, 5 François Tisseau, 4 Andrew Chauveau, 3 Tamato Leupolu, 2 Hikairo Forbes, 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Fabien Rofes, 17 Franck Labbe, 18 Nicolas Descamps, 19 Carolis Navickas, 20 Hugh Chalmers, 21 Felix Le Bourhis, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Louis Madaule.
Gloucester: 15 Rob Cook, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Tim Molenaar, 11 Jonny May, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Will James, 4 Jim Hamilton (capt), 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Darren Dawidiuk, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Shaun Knight, 19 Peter Buxton, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Mike Tindall, 23 Martyn Thomas.
What they said...
Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Davies
"Europe is a difficult arena, whether you're in the Amlin Challenge Cup or the Heineken Cup. I always stressed how important the middle two games against London Irish would be, and we came out on the right side of those two games.
"Now we have to hammer home our momentum in this tournament, and we have to go to Bordeaux and get a result. It's as simple as that.
"I think we've got a very good team, an exciting team. And we're expecting to perform."
