The La Rochelle champion will defend his title against Northampton on matchday one of the European Cup this weekend, when the first matches with South African sides in the European Cup take place in Lyon and Clermont.
The South African champions of Europe? For the first time in history, three South African franchises will compete in the European Cup and will try to succeed Toulouse and La Rochelle, last winners of the great Rugby European Cup.
Bordeaux-Bègles wants to find the colors
At the heart of a turbulent start to the season, the European Cup smells of fresh wind for Bordeaux-Bègles. The departure of coach Christophe Urios in mid-November has already had an effect: UBB won their first game since the end of October ahead of Brive last week. Repeated encore against Gloucester’s English? Mind you, Cherry and Whites have lost just once at home this season while the Girondins, eliminated by La Rochelle in the round of 16 last season, are yet to win away from Chaban. And without Matthieu Jalibert, who opened the national team, left to rest, the mission promises to be difficult.
Lyon first
One hell of an adventure. Le Lou, the first French club to face a South African franchise on their own turf, left on Monday for a ten-hour away trip. A long trip that demonstrates the interest of the club, winner of the Challenge last season, for continental matches.
In Pretoria, where they will face the Bulls, Xavier Garbajosa’s men will first have to acclimatise: on Saturday there will be around 25 degrees at Loftus Versfeld, against just 1 degree in Lyon at the same time.
La Rochelle puts its title on the line
The first step in Stade Rochelais’ defense of the continental title goes through Northampton. The Rochelais, crowned last season in front of the Irish side of Leinster, start strong against Saints used to top-level clubs (2000 European Cup, 2009 and 2014 Challenge). “We will be more anticipated. All the teams we play against will say ‘we are going to beat the champion’. So it is a heavy status to bear but we are also very proud of it.”warned fuller Jules Favre.
Lancaster takes on Racing 92
Current assistant coach of Leinster, future coach of Racing 92, the Englishman Stuart Lancaster will experience a special Saturday in Le Havre, where the match between the Irish cador and the ambitious French has been postponed due to a concert by Orelsan at the Arena . During the week the ties between Lancaster and Racing were interrupted, constant since the announcement of his arrival a month ago. “We decided it together: no contact this week”said manager Laurent Travers, future president of the Ile-de-France club. “He has only one wish, it’s to beat Racing. We have only one wish, it’s to beat Leinster.” Because Sky and Bianco made the Champions Cup”priority objective”as Scottish fly-half Finn Russell admitted.
In other fixtures Clermont will welcome the Cape Stormers, and Castres will host Exeter on Saturday.
