Heineken Cup Previews
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: J Wilson; K Pisi, G Pisi, D Waldouck, V Artemyev; S Myler, L Dickson; H Tongauiha, D Hartley, B Mujati; S Manoa, C Lawes; P Dowson, T Wood, Rhys Oakley.
EDINBURGH: S Hogg; T Seymour, A Dunbar, P Horne, S Lamont; R Jackson, H Pyrgos; R Grant, D Hall, M Cusack; T Swinson, A Kellock; J Strauss, J Barclay, R Wilson.
Verdict: Northampton Saints.
Pool Six
Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues, Salford City stadium (12.45, Sky Sports 1 red button)
The home side will be looking for a change of fortune having lost all six league matches. Tony Buckley starts at tighthead, Cillian Willis is on the bench while former Munster centre Sam Tuitupou is in the centre. The Welsh side should really fancy this one.
SALE: R Miller; M Jennings, W Addison, S Tuitupou, M Cueto; N MacLeod, N Fowles; E Lewis-Roberts, T Taylor, T Buckley; R Gray, F McKenzie; R Vernon, D Seymour, A Powell.
CARDIFF: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, G Evans, J Roberts, T James; C Sweeney, L Williams; T Filise, M Breeze, B Bourrust; B Davies, L Reed: J Navidi, S Warburton, A Pretorius.
Verdict: Cardiff Blues
Pool Two
Toulouse v Leicester Tigers,Le stadium (3.0, Irish time, live on Sky Sports 1)
Undoubtedly the game of the weekend that pits the tournament’s perennial heavyweights against each other. Former Leinster academy wing and Irish underage international Niall Morris starts on the right wing for the Tigers. The visitors to get a bonus point . . . at least.
TOULOUSE: C Poitrenaud; V Clerc, F Fritz, G Fickou, Y Huget; L McAlister, JM Doussain; G Steenkamp, G Botha, C Johnston; R Millo-Chluski, Y Maestri; Y Nyanga, T Dusautoir, L Picamoles.
LEICESTER TIGERS: S Hamilton; N Morris, M Tuilagi, A Allen, V Goneva: T Flood, B Youngs; L Mulipola, T Youngs, D Cole; G Kitchener, G Parling; S Mafi, T Waldrom, J Crane.
Verdict: Toulouse
Pool Six
Toulon v Montpellier,Stade Felix Mayol (8.0, live on Sky Sports 2)
Toulon, French rugby’s biggest spenders can field a team that should guarantee a bonus-point victory. Montpellier have elected to leave their giant Georgian Mamuka Gorgodze on the bench. It should be a five point haul for the home side.
TOULON: D Armitage: V Martin, M Mermoz, M Giteau, D Smith; J Wilkinson, F Michalak; A Sheridan, S Bruno, C Hayman; B Botha, J Suta; P Gunther, S Armitage, C Masoe.
MONTPELLIER: L Amorosino; Y Audrin, M Carraro, Paul Bosch, Y Artru; A N Other, J Tomas; Y Watremez, M Ladhuie, M Bustos; D Hancke, M Demarco: A Bias, R Martin, J Beattie.
Verdict: Toulon.
