Perpignan v Ospreys: Teams
Perpignan will have to chase the bonus-point victory they need to keep their qualification hopes alive without Dan Carter.
Last Updated: 16/01/09 6:20pm
Perpignan will have to chase the bonus-point victory they need to keep their qualification hopes alive without Dan Carter.
The All Blacks fly-half sits out the clash with an Achilles injury, meaning Steve Meyer will deputise at No.10.
Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter partners Meyer at half-back, while Maxime Mermoz teams up with French international David Marty in the centres.
In the pack, Perpignan have gone for size over mobility with Henry Tuilagi and Kisi Pulu both starting.
The French side were forced into a late change with the withdrawal of lock Gerrie Britz. Alvarez Kairelis steps up from the bench, with Guillaume Vilaceca added to the substitutes.
The Ospreys starting XV is packed full of Test experience, with 12 Welsh internationals, two from New Zealand and one from Ireland.
Player-coach Filo Tiatia partners fellow former All Black Marty Holah in the back row, along side Welsh skipper Ryan Jones.
Tommy Bowe flies the flag for Ireland in the backs.
Perpignan: 15 Philip Burger, 14 Christophe Manas, 13 David Marty, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Julien Candelon, 10 Steve Meyer, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Henry Tuilagi, 7 Damien Chouly, 6 Grégory Le Corvec, 5 Olivier Olibeau, 4 Alvarez Kairelis, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Kisi Pulu.
Replacements: 16 Charles Geli, 17 Sebastien Chobet, 18 Guillaume Vilaceca, 19 Jean-Pierre Perez, 20 Gavin Hume, 21 Nicolas Durand, 22 Jérôme Porical.
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Filo Tiatia, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Ryan Jones (c), 5 Alun-wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Cai Griffiths, 18 Lyndon Bateman, 19 Tom Smith, 20 Jamie Nutbrown, 21 Dan Biggar, 22 Jonny Vaughton.