London Irish v Mont-de-Marsan - Amlin Challenge Cup match preview

Declan Danaher: Back to captain the Exiles

Brian Smith: Names strong side for Mont-de-Marsan

London Irish boss Brian Smith has made just two changes to his side for Saturday's Amlin Challenge Cup match with Mont-de-Marsan.

The Exiles opened up with an impressive 43-16 victory at Bordeaux-Begles last week and Smith has named another strong team for the visit of Mont-de-Marsan.

The visitors prop up the Top 14 but they gave Gloucester an uncomfortable evening in France last week, and Smith has resisted the temptation to give some of his star men the weekend off.

Captain Declan Danaher returns to the back row in place of Ofisa Treviranus and England Under 20-star Anthony Watson will start at full-back in place of Steven Shingler, who drops to the bench.

London Irish: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Guy Armitage, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 1 Max Lahiff, 2 David Paice, 3 Halani Aulika, 4 Bryn Evans, 5 Matt Garvey, 6 Declan Danaher, 7 Jamie Gibson, 8 Chris Hala'ufia.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 Kieran Low, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Conor Gaston, 22 Steven Shingle, 23 Jack Moates

Mont-de-Marsan: 15 Jean Baptiste Claverie, 14 Jordan Beaulavon, 13 Yohann Durquet, 12 Christofer Baegert, 11 William Ryder, 10 Thibault Duvallet, 9 Arnaud Pic, 1 Julian Fiorini, 2 Thomas Bordes, 3 Mathieu Giudicelli, 4 Sebastian De Chaves, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 6 Yann Brethous, 7 Vincent Farre, 8 Aldric Lescure
Replacements: 16 Victor Paquet, 17 Morgan Phellipponneau, 18 Eric Dos Santos, 19 Vickus Liebenberg, 20 Laurent Magnaval, 21 Alexandre Ricaud, 22 Jean Baptiste Dubié, 23 Pierre Correia

What they said...

London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith

"Mont de Marsan showed a lot of guts and determination last weekend against Gloucester.

"We expect they'll be fired up for another shot at an England based team and we look forward to meeting that challenge head on."

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