Clermont v Wasps: Teams
Clermont have made just two changes to their starting line-up for the mouth-watering clash with champions Wasps.
Last Updated: 07/12/07 2:17pm
Clermont Auvergne have made just two changes to their starting line-up for the mouth-watering Heineken Cup clash with Wasps at Stade Marcel Michelin on Saturday.
Fresh from their fine 20-14 win over Bourgoin in the Top 14, Fiji speedster Vilimoni Delasau is dropped for Julien Malzieu - one of the try-scorers in Clermont's European Challenge Cup trophy win against Bath last season.
The other change is made up front where Argentina international Martin Scelzo comes in for Georgian star Davit Zirakashvili at tighthead prop.
But it is the replacements on the French club's bench that are set to raise a few eyebrows with ex-Wasps pivot Alex King set to get some game time against his former team-mates.
But there is no place for World Cup-winning captain John Smit, who is the most noticeable omission from Clermont's match-day 22.
The match brings together the current Challenge Cup winners and current Heineken Cup holders, with Clermont taking on the defending champions knowing they need to win if they are to progress any further in the competition.
The French outfit are packed with international star quality but sit four points behind Wasps after taking a hugely weakened side to Munster in the last round where they were soundly beaten.
Ian McGeechan's Wasps have shown all the signs of hallmark champions with hungry and impressive wins over Munster and Llanelli Scarlets.
The two-time champions won on their last trip to France with a crucial 16-13 victory at Castres back in January to qualify for the latter stages of last season's competition and begin a golden period which culminated in lifting the trophy at Twickenham against Leicester Tigers.
Clermont Auvergne and London Wasps have never met before in the Heineken Cup.
Clermont Auvergne: 15 Anthony Floch, 14 Aurélien Rougerie (c), 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Gonzalo Canale, 11 Julien Malzieu; 10 Brock James, 9 Pierre Mignoni; 1 Laurent Emmanuelli, 2 Mario Ledesma, 3 Martin Scelzo, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 5 Thibaut Privat, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Sam Broomhall, 8 Elvis Vermeulen.
Replacements: 16 Mirko Lozupone, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Christophe Samson, 19 Alexandre Audebert, 20 John Senio, 21 Alex King, 22 Benoît Baby.
London Wasps: 15 Mark van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Tom Voyce; 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Eoin Reddan; 1 Tim Payne, 2 Raphael Ibanez, 3 Phil Vickery, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 George Skivington, 6 John Hart, 7 James Haskell, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (capt).
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Nick Adams, 18 Richard Birkett, 19 Dan Leo, 20 Simon Amor, 21 Josh Lewsey, 22 Tom Rees
Date: Saturday, 8 December
Venue: Stade Marcel Michelin
Kick-off: 13:35 GMT
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)