After a cracking start to their URC campaign the Stormers switch focus to the Champions Cup and their first Pool 3 match sees them head to France to take on Aviron Bayonnais on Friday night
Aviron Bayonnais v Stormers, Friday 5th December, Bayonne, KO 22:00 (South African time)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
Assistant Referees: Saba Abulashvili (Geo), Saba Makharadze (Geo)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Weather Forecast – Bayonne
Aviron Bayonnais:
This a Pool 3 clash and the likes of Leinster, Leicester Tigers, La Rochelle and Harlequins are also in this ultra tough group.
In the Top 14 Bayonne have won 7 and lost 4 of their matches and are currently in fifth place with 30 log points, 9 adrift of log leaders Toulouse. Home form is undoubtedly their strength as they have won all 6 in front of their own supporters this season.
After this Round 2 sees Aviron visit Harlequins and in January they are away to Leicester Tigers in Round 3 and at home to Leinster in Round 4.
Last season Bayonne were involved in the second tier Challenge Cup and they made it to the Round of 16 where they lost 32-22 at home to the Bulls.
To win the Champions Cup title this season Aviron are 125/1 shots with Hollywoodbets
Stormers:
In the URC the Stormers are the only side to boast a 100% record, 6 wins from 6 and after coming from behind to win at Munster last week they were 2 points clear of Cardiff at the top of the standings and 11 points better off than the next best South Africa side, the Lions who are seventh.
After this the Stormers return to SA for a Round 2 clash against La Rochelle in Port Elizabeth. In Round 3 the Stormers visit Harlequins and they finish up at home to Leicester Tigers.
Last season the Stormers won 1 and lost 3 of their pool matches and after earning just the 5 log points finished at the foot of their pool standings to make an early exit.
To win the Champions Cup title this season the Stormers are 40/1 shots with Hollywoodbets
Team News
Bayonne: 15 Yohan Orabe, 14 Tom Spring, 13 Cheikh Tiberghien, 12 Federico Mori, 11 Victor Hannoun, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Nika Lomidze, 7 Arthur Iturria, 6 Alexandre Fischer, 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 2 Vincent Giudicelli, 1 Ignacio Calles
Replacements: 16 Lucas Martin, 17 Swan Cormenier, 18 Pascal Cotet, 19 Manex Ariceta, 20 Facundo Bosch, 21 Raphael Marchesin, 22 Baptiste Tilloles, 23 Arnaud Erbinartegaray
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Jonathan Roche
The Betting,
Average early show
Aviron Bayonnais -0.5 points at 9/10
Stormers +0.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
This Weeks Bets
Brent Graham's betting angle and plays for this weeks Champions Cup matches will be posted on this Blog.
Finally, all this week's rugby tips from members of the Goodforthegame community can be found on the weekly rugby thread on our brand new discussion forum. If you haven't done so already, register a forum account here.