Friday 17 October 2014 16:12, UK
A new era in European rugby dawned on Thursday as Gloucester thrashed Brive 55-0 in the newly-formed European Rugby Challenge Cup and the revolution continues throughout the weekend with seven games across Saturday and Sunday.
After narrowly missing out on a place in the European Champions Cup, losing their playoff to Premiership side Wasps, Stade Francais get their continental campaign underway with Newport Gwent Dragons visiting the Stade Jean Bouin.
The Frenchmen enter the clash on the back of a morale-boosting 23-19 win over Top 14 heavyweights Racing Metro, while the Dragons must rediscover form after back-to-back defeats in the Guinness PRO12.
Ahead of their visit to France, Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac has made four changes, with Michael Tagicakibau, Rob Evans, Emyr Phillips and Samson Lee all coming in, while Stade are led by hooker Remy Bonfils with experienced internationals Digby Ioane and Meyer Bosman in the backline.
While Cardiff Blues have made an indifferent start to their PRO12 campaign, their opponents in the Challenge Cup at Arms Park on Saturday, Grenoble, are in fine fettle but they do not boast great strength in depth.
Cardiff have won just one of their six opening PRO12 matches leaving them languishing in 10th, whereas Grenoble stand a respectable sixth after five wins from nine in the Top 14.
Mark Hammett has named a strong Blues side with Wales captain Sam Warbuton, Adam Jones and Matthew Rees in the pack, while Rhys Patchell will be out to impress at full-back. Patchell lines up opposite former Stormers No 15 Gio Aplon and scrum-half James Hart leads the French side.
Given their explosive start to the Premiership campaign Rob Baxter’s Exeter Chiefs side will be relishing the test of travelling to the Stade Jean Dauger to face Bayonne.
The Chiefs sit third in the English league with four wins from six, including some notable scalps along the way, while Bayonne are down in 10th in the French top flight having won just three of their nine outings.
England winger Jack Nowell retains his place at the heart of the Chiefs backline, while Exeter will be wary of the threat posed by Bayonne No 8 and skipper Jean Monribot.
Connacht will be firm favourites when they host French side La Rochelle at the Sportsground on Saturday evening, having spent the last three season in Europe’s premier competition.
The Irish province have won four and drawn one of their six opening PRO12 fixtures, but La Rochelle have slipped to 11th in the French league after six defeats.
For Connacht, hooker Jason Harris-Wright will make his season debut as one of five changes by head coach Pat Lam.
Lyon may only boast a record of three wins from nine in the Top 14 this season, but they still head into their Challenge Cup clash against London Welsh as considerable favourites.
Justin Burnell’s Exiles are yet to chalk up a win in the Premiership and appear destined for an immediate return to the English second tier.
In view of the Premiership battles, Burnell has made a number of changes but does keep pivotal players Gordon Ross and Seb Stegmann in reserve on the bench, while Lyon are looking to better their thee wins and three defeats in their lone Challenge Cup appearance.
Zebre will make their European Challenge Cup debut on Saturday when they host Oyonnax at the Stadio XXV Aprile.
Oyonnax made their first appearance in the competition last season, winning two and losing three of their six matches, while Zebre have never won a European match in their 12 attempts.
Italian international stalwart Mauro Bergamasco captains Zebre in a back row which contrain Valerio Bernabo and Samuela Vunisa, while Riaan Smit starts at full-back for the Top 14 side.
Sunday’s lone clash sees London Irish take on Italian side Rovigo at the Madejski Stadium, with the Premiership side strongly favoured for a sizeable win.
It will not be the first meeting between the sides after they were drawn in the same pool in 2008/09, when the Exiles claimed victory in both fixtures.
Eoin Griffin will make his debut for London Irish at inside centre, Tomas O’Leary captains the side from scrum-half and Topsy Ojo gets the nod at full-back.
