Clermont v Bordeaux-Begles preview: Three changes for hosts
Friday 21 October 2016 16:12, UK
Clermont are without a number of key players ahead of Saturday's Champions Cup Pool 5 clash with Bordeaux-Begles at the Stade Marcel Michelin.
Scott Spedding (concussion), Vincent Debaty (neck) and Hosea Gear (knee) were all expected to return ahead of the fixture, live on Sky Sports 3 red button, but are absent from the 23-man squad chosen by Franck Azema. They join Damien Chouly and Friz Lee in the stands.
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Azema has kept the faith with the back-line that visited Sandy Park last weekend, with his three changes coming in the forwards.
In the second row, Paul Jedrasiak comes in for Flip van der Merwe while Sitaleki Timani takes Paul Jedrasiak's place on the bench.
The other changes are in the back row where Camille Gerondeau replaces Fritz Lee at number eight and Julien Bardy shifts from openside to blindside flank, where he takes over from Damien Chouly.
Clermont go into the match on the back of an impressive 35-8 victory on the road against Exeter Chiefs in round one but are all too aware of the danger their opponents possess, having lost their 25-game run unbeaten Champions Cup home record at the hands of Bordeaux.
The vistors' head coach Raphael Ibanez has made nine changes to the side that defeated Ulster last weekend ahead of the trip.
The most notable absence comes in the shape of Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper who is replaced by Metuisela Talebula. Blair O'Connor is also absent from the Clermont back-line with Kobus van Wyk filling the number 11 shirt. Jayden Spence and Joe Wakacegu form a new midfield partnership, taking the places of Jean-Baptiste Dubie and Romain Lonca.
In the forwards, Sebastien Taofifenua and Marc Clerc replace Jefferson Poirot and Vadim Cobilas while Tom Palmer comes into the starting XV at the expense of Jandre Marais.
The final changes are in the back row where Luke Braid and Marco Tauleigne come in for Luke Jones and Loann Goujon.
Saturday's clash will be the third meeting between the clubs in European competition since their pool stage meeting last season, with both matches being won by the away side on the day.
Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 David Strettle, 13 Remi Lamerat, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 1 David Kirkashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 3 Thomas Domingo, 4 Paul Jedrasiak, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 6 Julien Bardy, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 8 Camille Gerondeau.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Etienne Falgoux, 18 Clement Ric, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Judicael Cancoriet, 21 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 22 Patricio Fernandez, 23 Aurelien Rougerie.
Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 14 Jayden Spence, 13 Metuisela Talebula, 12 Josaia Vakacegu, 11 Kobus Van Wyk, 10 Iain Madigan, 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 1 Sebastien Taofifenua, 2 Clement Maynadier, 3 Marc Clerc, 4 Tom Palmer, 5 Cyril Cazeaux, 6 Luke Braid. 7 Hugh Chalmers, 8 Marco Tauleigne.
Replacements: 16 Benat Auzqui, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 19 Ole Avei, 20 Tristan Labouteley, 21 Julien Audy, 22 Lionel Beauxis, 23 Jean-Baptiste Dubie.
