Friday 24 October 2014 09:05, UK
Friday sees five games in Round 2 of the newly-formed European Rugby Challenge Cup, with Dragons hosting Newcastle and London Irish travelling to Grenoble among the ties.
London Irish travel to Grenoble in Pool 1 looking to make it two wins on the bounce in the competition after thrashing Rovigo 70-14 at home last weekend, while Grenoble are aiming to pick up their first points following their 37-14 defeat at Cardiff Blues.
Exiles' boss Brian Smith has returned to his tried and tested formation, recalling many of the players who were rested for the game against Rovigo following a tough opening block of Aviva Premiership fixtures.
Tomás O'Leary retains his place at nine with Chris Noakes returning at fly-half. Shane Geraghty and Fergus Mulchrone reunite to continue their partnership in the midfield and Alex Lewington, James Short and Andrew Fenby make up the back three for Irish.
After an impressive debut last week Eoin Griffin is given another chance to impress, this time off the bench, and Topsy Ojo will hope to back up his hat-trick should he get onto the field.
Meanwhile, Grenoble have stuck with largely the same team that lost at Cardiff Blues. Jackson Willison has come in for Chris Farrell at 13 while Henry Vanderglas replaces Fabien Alexandre in the back-row. Richard Choirat and Laurent Bouchet are in for Albertus Buckle and Anthony Hegarty at tighthead and hooker respectively.
Bayonne will hand Lalakai Foketi his debut when they travel to La Rochelle in Pool 2. The Australian youngster will line up alongside Santiago Fernandez in midfield for a team featuring eight changes.
The biggest sees Thibaut Visensang switch from the centres to the back row, but there are also recalls for experienced campaigners Blair Stewart and Giorgi Jgenti. The impressive Anthony Etrillard comes into the starting line-up at hooker after missing out altogether in the 30-24 win over Exeter.
La Rochelle have also rung the changes after their 48-12 hammering at Connacht with nine new faces. Jules Lebail switches from scrum-half to fly-half, while there is a whole new front row as well.
Newcastle Falcons have made seven changes from the team that dispatched Bucharest Wolves in last weekend's European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 3 clash as a number of players drop out with illness.
Simon Hammersley returns to the full-back position he has impressed in so far this season, with Lee Smith moving to the left wing to accommodate. Alex Tait replaces Noah Cato on the right wing.
In the forwards, Rob Vickers comes into the starting line up at loosehead prop, while there is an entirely new combination in the second row in the shape of Scott MacLeod and Sean Robinson. Captain Will Welch returns in place of Dan Temm in the back row.
For the Dragons, second row James Thomas gets the nod from Lyn Jones to make his first European start. The 24-year old is one of three changes made from the team that won a bonus point against Stade Francais last weekend.
The back three, skipper Lee Byrne, Matthew Pewtner and Hallam Amos, all retain their places from last weekend after impressing the coaches. Young gun Angus O'Brien gets the nod at fly-half, as does Richie Rees at scrum-half.
The front row takes on a slightly different shape as it includes props Boris Stankovich and Dan Way, alongside hooker Elliot Dee. The second row sees the inclusion of James Thomas who replaces Andrew Coombs. Thomas plays alongside Rynard Landman in the second row with Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd and Taulupe Faletau all keeping their spots in the back row.
The Edinburgh team remains largely unchanged after last Friday's opening European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 4 win over Bordeaux-Beglès
Following an ankle injury early in the first half to captain Mike Coman, back row Tomas Leonardi moves to number eight with Roddy Grant - who replaced Coman last weekend - switching to start at flanker.
Lock and club vice captain Grant Gilchrist will lead the team, in the week he was announced as Scotland captain for the forthcoming autumn Tests, while David Denton comes on to the bench.
Lyon are skippered by Connie Basson as they look to build on their opening win over London Welsh.
Brive and Zebre both enter this European Challenge Cup clash on the back of defeats, with the former losing heavily at Gloucester while Zebre were beaten at home against Oyonnax.
Riaan Swanepoel moves from fly-half to outside centre as Nicolas Bézy swaps from nine to fly-half to allow Damien Neveu a start at the base, while Andrew Mailei is at number twelve.
Zebre meanwhile name a strong team as Hennie Daniller returns at full-back. However, new Italy call-up Kelly Haimona is benched as they go for Matteo Pratichetti at inside centre.
