Heineken Cup Rd 1

Heineken Cup  All times BST. Generally deduct 6 hrs for Houston time.
Friday , October 12
Ospreys vs Benetton Treviso    20:00
Ulster vs Castres    20:00

Saturday , October 13
Edinburgh vs Saracens    13:35
Racing Metro 92 vs Munster    13:35
Zebre vs Connacht    13:35
Harlequins vs Biarritz    18:00
Clermont Auvergne vs Scarlets    15:40
Leinster vs Exeter    15:40

Sunday , October 14
Toulouse vs Leicester    15:00
Northampton vs Glasgow    12:45
Sale vs Cardiff Blues    12:45
Toulon vs Montpellier    20:00

Preview: Ospreys v Treviso

Ospreys kick off their Heineken Cup campaign with tricky clash against Treviso at Liberty Stadium on Friday.

In the past Ospreys may well have been resounding favourites for the opening fixture in Pool Two, but that is no longer the case after Treviso's shock win over the defending Pro12 champions a few weeks ago.
Ospreys has turned their poor start to the season around and head coach Steve Tandy's first game in charge in Europe is the perfect opportunity to show they are on the right track.
Last season saw Treviso enjoy their best campaign in the Heineken Cup for seven years with victory over Biarritz and a draw against the Ospreys.
Kris Burton is wracking up the points in front of goal and in Italy flanker Roberto Barbieri, Treviso have the highest scoring forward in the Pro12 with six tries already this season. The Ospreys will be banking on Dan Biggar being on song with the boot.
Richard Hibbard makes his 150th Ospreys appearance while Jonathan Thomas plays his 50th Heineken Cup game. Ryan Bevington makes his first Heineken Cup start.
"We've been drawn against the best team in Italy, France and England, there are six Heineken Cup titles in the pool and every match is going to be a real test," said Ospreys backs coach Gruff Rees.
"Treviso first up is a difficult one, we've seen for ourselves already, not just on the opening day of the season but also last year in the Heineken, how good a team they are. Leicester have also found it tough going against them in Europe and Toulouse will be well aware of how Biarritz fared against them last season, so we will be paying them the respect you would expect for such a good team.
"It's crucial in Europe to get off to a good start, and crucial that you win your home games, so the importance of Friday night can't be underestimated."
Meanwhile, Treviso welcome back wing Ludovico Nitoglia from injury as he returns to the starting XV for the first time since mid September. Tobias Botes and Kristopher Burton form a dangerous half-back pairing.
In the pack, Manoa Vosawai is back in the number eight jersey after a five-month layoff with a shoulder injury.
The other changes are in the front row where experienced Leonardo Ghiraldini, is joined by Alberto De Marchi and Jacobus "Bees" Roux.
The teams:
Ospreys:15 Richard Fussell, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Jonathan Thomas, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Ryan Bevington.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Dwyer, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 George Stowers, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Tom Isaacs.
Treviso: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Tommaso Iannone, 10 Kristopher Burton, 9 Tobias Botes, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Simone Favaro, 5 Valerio Bernabò, 4 Antonio Pavanello (c), 3 Jacobus Roux, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Alberto De Marchi,
Replacements: 16 Enrico Ceccato, 17 Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet, 18 Pedro Di Santo, 19 Francesco Minto, 20 Paul Derbyshire, 21 Robert Barbieri, 22 Fabio Semenzato, 23 Andrea Pratichetti.
Date: Friday, October 12
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Kick-off: 20:00 BST (19:00 GMT)

Pete says. Treviso sending their best team.
Home ground advantage should be enough. Ospreys by 5

Preview: Ulster v Castres

Last season's beaten finalists Ulster start their Heineken Cup campaign against Castres at Ravenhill on Friday.

Ulster are top of the Pro12 standings and unbeaten in their opening five games of the season. The Ulstermen have won their last 11 games at home in the Heineken Cup.
In stark contrast, Castres, consistent performers in the Top 14, have one of the worst away records in the tournament having won just won of their last 17 games on the road.
In team news, loose forward Iain Henderson will make his home debut for Ulster in the Pool 4 opener. Henderson replaces the injured Nick Williams, who has failed to recover from a rib injury picked up in the 25-0 win over Connacht on Friday.
Henderson will make his fourth appearance for the province, his first in the Heineken Cup. It follows Wednesday's news that the 20-year-old has signed his first full contract, keeping him at the club until June 2015.
Henderson's inclusion at blindside flanker will mean Stephen Ferris switches to the back of the scrum. The rest of the team is unchanged from the clinical victory over Connacht.
The only change on the bench will see Ruan Pienaar, who returned from Rugby Championship duty with South Africa earlier in the week, named in place of Michael Heaney.
After missing most of last season with an Achilles tendon injury, full-back Jared Payne will also make his European bow.
"I can't wait. I've been watching games at Ravenhill since I was a kid and I'm really looking forward to pulling on the white jersey and experiencing the atmosphere as a player," said Henderson.
"My first aim for the season was to be involved in a few PRO12 games but with the few injuries that we have in the back row, I've been given an opportunity and I have to try and grab it with both hands.
"Castres are a very physical team but they also throw the ball wide and have an expansive kicking game. That should make for a tough, but entertaining game. We'll have to work really hard to nullify their threats."
Castres currently occupy sixth position in the Top 14 having beaten Clermont Auvergne at the weekend, and with Ulster undefeated in the PRO12, it promises to be a tantalising clash.
The teams:
Ulster: Jared Payne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Stephen Ferris, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Iain Henderson, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johan Muller (c), 3 John Afoa, 2 Rory Best, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Callum Black, 18 A Macklin, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Mike McComish, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Luke Marshall, 23 Craig Gilroy.
Castres:15 Romain Teulet, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Seremaia Bai, 12 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Pierre Bernard, 9 Thierry Lacrampe, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Yannick Caballero, 6 Piula Faasalele, 5 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 4 Matthias Rolland, 3 Michaël Coetzee, 2 Mathieu Bonello, 1 Yannick Forestier
Replacements: 16 Marc-Antoine Rallier, 17 Grégory Marmoiton, 18 Mihaïta Lazar, 19 Iosefa Tekori, 20 Antonie Claassen, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Paul Bonnefond, 23 Thomas Sanchou,
Date: Friday, October 12
Venue: Ravenhill, Belfast
Kick-off: 20:00 (19:00 BST)

Pete says Ulster by 10. They are playing good rugby and Castres are fairly one dimensional which is surprising given the quality of their backs.

Preview: Harlequins v Biarritz

English champions Harlequins kick off their Heineken Cup campaign against Biarritz at the Stoop on Saturday.

The 2011 Amlin Challenge Cup winners host the two-time Heineken Cup Finalists and reigning Challenge Cup champions arguably the most important clash in Pool 3.
Harlequins failed to reach the knock-out stages in last season's Heineken Cup despite beating four-time winners Toulouse away from home as they stumbled at the last hurdle against Connacht (with whom have have been drawn again) on the lsat day of the pool stages.
Harlequins have never faced Biarritz in the tournament but skipper Chris Robshaw is well aware of the importance to get off to a winning start.
"We want to push through to that quarter-final stage. It's all about winning your first couple of games. As soon as you let those slip away you're playing catch-up," he told the ERC website.
Biarritz made a flying start to the Top 14 season but have lost their last four games.
Bairritz have named former Crusaders and Leinster playmaker Mat Berquist at fly-half while ex-England full-back Iain Balshaw also starts.
French internationals Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili are absent due to injury while Damien Traille is on the bench.
There are five changes to the Harlequins team that started against Exeter Chiefs last weekend.
Tom Williams has recovered from a hip injury and starts on the right wing, while Danny Care returns at scrum-half.
Among the forwards Joe Marler comes in at loose head, with Rob Buchanan making his first start of the season at hooker where he replaces Joe Gray, who is having treatment to an injury which will prevent him playing for a number of weeks. Gray's injury status will be updated following a specialist's opinion.
Maurie Fa'asavalu returns to the starting line-up with captain Chris Robshaw and Nick Easter completing the back row.
Among the replacements, Dave Ward will look to make his first senior appearance, while Ben Botica and Seb Stegmann provide cover for the backs.


The teams:
Harlequins:15 Mike Brown, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care,8 Nick Easter, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 5 George Robson, 4 Ollie Kohn, 3 James Johnston, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Joe Marler,
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Tom Guest, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Seb Stegmann,
Biarritz: 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Taku Ngwenya, 13 Dane Haylett-Petty, 12 Seremaïa Burotu, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Mat Berquist, 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 8 Talalelei Gray, 7 Wenceslas Lauret, 6 Magnus Lund, 5 Thibault Dubarry, 4 Erik Lund, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Arnaud Heguy, 1 Fabien Barcella
Replacements:16 Benoit August, 17 Lodewicus Blaauw, 18 Thomas Synaeghel, 19 Pelu Taele, 20 Benoit Guyot, 21 Julien Peyrelongue, 22 Damien Traille, 23 Benoît Baby,
Date: Saturday, October 13
Kick-off: 18:00 BST

Good preview from planetrugby and I pick Quins by 9 as Biarritz are dangerous even with a so called weakened side.

Toulon v Montpellier

Heineken Cup title contenders Toulon kick off their campaign with a Mediterranean derby against Montpellier on Sunday.

RCT have rolled out all their big guns in a starting XV that features Frederic Michalak at scrum-half inside fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.
Wales prop Gethin Jenkins must settle for a place on the bench, where he is one of five internationals riding pine.
Matt Giteau, Carl Hayman, Delon Armitage, Andrew Sheridan, Bakkies Botha and Chris Masoe all start.
Club captain Joe van Niekerk and Pumas skipper Juan Fernandez Lobbe do not feature in the matchday 22.
Botha said he was delighted to be appearing on the European club stage.
"It's a great challenge for me but also for the team to test ourselves against the best," said the veteran Springbok lock.
"It's the highest of the high in rugby. When you see the level of the Top 14 and only six teams qualify for the European Cup, you quickly understand that this competition is particularly elevated."
Montpellier welcome back Lucas Amorosino while Scottish international Johnnie Beattie starts at number eight.
French internationals Fulgence Ouedraogo and François Trhinh-Duc have been rested.


The teams:
Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Vincent Martin, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 David Smith, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Frederic Michalak, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Pierrick Gunther, 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements:16 Mickael Ivaldi, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Virgile Bruni, 19 Mathieu Bastareaud, 20 Benjamin Lapeyre, 21 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 22 Simon Shaw, 23 Davit Kubriashvili.
Montpellier: 15 Lucas Amorosino, 14 Yoan Audrin, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Yohann Artru, 10 Ilian Perraux 9 Julien Tomas, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Rémy Martin, 6 Alexandre Bias, 5 Mickael Demarco, 4 Drickus Hancke, 3 Maximiliano Bustos, 2 Mickael Ladhuie, 1 Yvan Watremez.
Replacements:16 Agustin Creevy, 18 George Jgenti, 19 Aliki Fakate, 20 Mamuka Gorgodze, 21 Benoit Paillaugue, 22 Pierre Bérard, 23 Timoci Nagusa.
Date: Sunday, October 14
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 BST)
Venue: Stade Felix-Mayol
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)Good preview courtesy of planet rugby.
I have Toulon by 24. This is the best Toulon team. 

Toulouse v Leicester

 Toulouse host fellow former champions Leicester Tigers in the biggest clash of the opening weekend of the Heineken Cup on Sunday.

There's no harder place to begin the Heineken Cup trail than in Toulouse this weekend, says Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill, who spent two years as a player in France.
"They're historically the best club in France, they're the most successful team in Europe, and there's not a harder place to go so, we've got to be right," said Cockerill, who has been with Tigers in each of the club's five visits to a European final.
"It's the unique nature of the Heineken Cup to go to places like Toulouse and have two good sides playing each other in the first round.
"The pool stages are not a procession -you have to perform really well from day one.
"This could be the kind of fixture to grace a quarter-final or semi-final."
Toulouse academy graduate Gael Fickou will make his European debut at inside centre for the four-time champions. Clement Poitrenaud returns to the full-back berth meaning Yoann Huget shifts to left wing.
Pumas lock Patricio Albacete returns from international duty in the Rugby Championship and comes in on the bench. Veteran French international centre Yannick Jauzion is on the bench but will undergo a fitness test on matchday.
For Leicester, Steve Mafi and Scott Hamilton are both included in the starting XV on their return from injury.
Flanker Mafi and full-back Hamilton both missed the Aviva Premiership wins over Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks, but have returned to fitness in time for the European opener in France this weekend.
Loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza is also included in the Tigers squad for the first time this season on his return from international duty with Argentina.
Vereniki Goneva makes his Heineken Cup debut on the wing as two-time European champions Tigers visit four-time winners Toulouse in Pool 2.
Toulouse coach Guy Novès describes Sunday's match as the one "everyone is waiting for."
"Leicester is a team that has been European champions, champions of England and has experience at least equal to our own, so this will be a match of the highest level," he said.
"It is a match everyone has been waiting for since the start of the season. Anything can happen in this competition as we saw last year when we beat Harlequins away and they came to win in Toulouse."


The teams:
Toulouse: 15 Clement Poitrenaud, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Luke McAlister, 9 Jean Marc Doussain, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Romain Millo Chlusky, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Jean Batiste Poux, 18 Antoine Guillamon, 19 Patricio Albacete, 20 Jean Bouilhou, 21 Yannick Jauzion, 22 Luke Burgess, 23 Timoci Matanavou.
Leicester: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Niall Morris, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Thomas Waldrom, 6 Steve Mafi, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Graham Kitchener, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Logovi'i Mulipola.
Replacements:16 George Chuter, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Richard Thorpe, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 George Ford, 23 Matt Smith.
Date: Sunday, October 14
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 BST)

Pete says Toulouse look great on paper as usual. Lets give them one more chance to win by a couple of tries. Toulouse by 14

Northampton v Glasgow

Glasgow are intent on maintaining their fine Pro12 form when they step into the Heineken Cup arena with a trip to Northampton on Sunday.

The Pool 4 clash at Franklin's Gardens sees head coach Gregor Townsend take his team to one of his former clubs, set on securing a fifth straight victory in all competitions.
The Warriors have never before beaten an English Premiership team on their own patch, and with the Saints currently leading that competition, the size of the challenge facing Townsend and his troops this weekend is clear.
Townsend, however, is adamant that Glasgow are equipped with both the ability and attitude to claim a Round 1 triumph in the Midlands.
"The start of the Heineken Cup is always a really exciting time in the calendar, he said.
"This weekend we have the opportunity to achieve something we've never done before, beating a Premiership side in England, and although we know it will be massively tough, we travel with confidence in each other and how we want to play.
"Historically, we've not been fast starters in our pool, and getting results on the board early on is crucial to our firm ambition of qualifying for the knock-out stages.
"It's going to take a very special effort from all 23 players to beat Northampton and establish early momentum in the tournament, but this group certainly has what it takes to achieve that."
Townsend's team for the clash shows three changes from the excellent away win over Cardiff Blues last Saturday. Stuart Hogg - who impressed off the bench having recovered from an ankle injury - lines up at full-back, while Ryan Grant comes in at loosehead prop and Tim Swinson starts in the second row.
Glasgow have gone for a 6/2 forward/back split on the bench, testament to the level of physicality they expect to encounter from the Saints.
Meanwhile, Northampton boss Jim Mallinder wants a massive improvementfrom his side after they suffered their first Premiership defeat in six matches against London Irish last week.
"We know we need to get off to a good start in the Heineken Cup and make the most of starting our campaign at home," he said.
"All of the players have worked hard in training this week and are determined to get another winning run started on Sunday."
The Saints head into Europe sitting at the top of the Premiership Rugby table but Mallinder knows that Glasgow are not to be underestimated.
Two of the Warriors' recent victories were on the road in Cardiff and Swansea which has elevated them to third place in the PRO12 standings.
"You don't win at places like the Arms Park and Liberty Stadium unless you are a good team and Glasgow have shown in the last couple of seasons that they are developing into a dangerous outfit," said Mallinder.
"Gregor Townsend has a squad which is full of international, Heineken Cup and Pro 12 experience, and they have followed up last season's Pro 12 semi-final with a good start to the season.
"From our perspective we know we need to get off to a good start in the Heineken Cup and make the most of starting our campaign at home.
"But if we are to get the result we want we know that nothing less than a massive step up from last weekend's game will do.
"All of the players have worked hard in training this week and are determined to get another winning run started on Sunday."
The teams:
Northampton: 15 James Wilson, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Dom Waldouck, 11 Vasily Artemyev, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Rhys Oakley, 7 Tom Wood, 6 Phil Dowson, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Doran Jones, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 GJ Van Velze, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Tom May.
Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 John Barclay, 6 Josh Strauss, 5 Al Kellock (c), 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Mike Cusack, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Finlay Gillies, 17 Ofa Fainga'anuku, 18 Gordon Reid, 19 Tom Ryder, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 James Eddie, 22 Niko Matawalu, 23 Peter Murchie.
Date: Sunday, 14 October
Pete says Saints by 14. Both are good teams on paper. Hopefully Glasgow will throw the ball around a bit and be competitve. If they play pedantic rugby they will be beat by more.

Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues

Cardiff Blues welcome back wing Alex Cuthbert to their starting line-up for Sunday's Heineken Cup clash with Sale Sharks at Salford City Stadium.

Cuthbert replaces Harry Robinson while there are four changes up front with Sam Warburton, Marc Breeze, Bradley Davies and Tafa'ao Filise starting, having missed the match against Glasgow.
"We've enjoyed a great tradition in the tournament as the Blues," said director of rugby, Phil Davies.
"We're one of the top seeds and are very eager to protect that status, so we're keen to do well in the competition as a whole.
"It will be very direct, forward battle on Sunday.
"There are areas which we can improve on, particularly the consistency with which we perform all the moves.
"We need the players to deliver that for us and we need to make sure that we give them the confidence to do that.
"We need to encourage them to play positively and get those key fundamentals right."
Meanwhile, North West youngsters Will Addison, Nathan Fowles, Mark Jennings and Tommy Taylor are all named in Sale's starting fifteen.
Addison switches to outside centre and Fowles teams up at half-back with Nick Macleod, following two appearances off the bench against Bath and Leicester Tigers. Jennings makes his senior debut on the right wing, whilst Taylor is at hooker in an unchanged pack.
"Everybody at the club worked hard last season to qualify for the Heineken Cup. Going into this game, we want to relieve a little bit of the pressure on ourselves. All we're after is a performance like last Friday, to take some of our chances, and I'm sure that win's not far away," said director of rugby, Bryan Redpath.
"Cardiff Blues have been a strong side through the years in the Heineken Cup and are the number one seeds in our pool. They'll be a tough nut to crack. We'll approach the game with increased confidence, especially after the first half display against Leicester, and we must make sure that we're smart during the second half.
"Will Addison is a very talented player. He's had to fill in on the wing to cover injuries and a suspension, but I view him as a natural thirteen. Nathan Fowles added a lot of energy when he came on last weekend and didn't look out of place. We're giving him a chance to perform on a big stage and he's got a big role to play. Mark Jennings has played well in the Jets matches and has trained well. He's a physical boy who'll come up against some big players. We need to be on our mettle - it's an opportunity for all three of them to play well in a big game."


The teams:
Sale: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Mark Jennings, 13 Will Addison, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Nick Macleod, 9 Nathan Fowles, 8 Andy Powell, 7 David Seymour (c), 6 Richie Vernon, 5 Fraser McKenzie, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Eifion Lewis-Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Vadim Cobilas, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 James Gaskell, 21 Cillian Willis, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Johnny Leota.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Gavin Evans, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Andries Pretorius (c), 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Josh Navidi, 5 Lou Reed, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Benoit Bourrust, 2 Marc Breeze, 1 Tafa'ao Filise.
Replacements: 16 Andi Kyriacou, 17 Nathan Trevett, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 James Down, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Dan Fish.
Date: Sunday, October 14
Kick-off: 12:45 BST
Blues have a few quality players back in the side.
Plus, they are targeting this competition, whereas Sale really need to focus on staying in premier division. They've both been playing crap rugby but I'll take a chance with Blues by 14