RUAN PIENAAR HAS recovered from injury to make his first European appearance since Montpellier’s defeat to Exeter Chiefs in round two of the Champions Cup when Leinster visit the south of France tomorrow afternoon [KO 1pm, Sky Sports].
The former Ulster scrum-half featured in the corresponding fixture between the sides at the RDS back in October before suffering a concussion in the home defeat to Exeter a week later.
But Pienaar has been named to start in a star-studded side selected by Montpellier coach Vern Cotter for Saturday’s final Pool 3 clash at the Altrad Stadium, with the Top 14 side still in with a slim chance of progression to the quarter-finals.
Pienaar forms a stellar half-back partnership with Aaron Cruden, who missed the round one game in Dublin through injury, while Montpellier’s giant Fijian Nemani Nadolo will look to cause more damage to Leinster having scored four tries in his last three games against the province.
The French side will be captained by Louis Picamoles once again and know they need a bonus-point win over Leinster to stand any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Castres have named their team for Sunday’s trip to face Munster at Thomond Park [KO 1pm, Sky Sports].
Geoffrey Palis, who was this week named in France’s Six Nations squad for the championship opener against Ireland, starts at fullback while Samoan winger David Smith and South African-born French international Rory Kockott are also included.
Castres travel to Limerick with an outside chance of topping the pool. A bonus-point win at Thomond Park and defeat for Racing 92 to Leicester would see them top the standings with just 17 points, as long as they deny Munster a losing bonus point.
Montpellier (v Leinster):
15. Benjamin Fall
14. Timoci Nagusa
13. Frans Steyn
12. Jan Serfontein
11. Nemani Nadolo
10. Aaron Cruden
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Mikheil Nariashvili
2. Bismarck Du Plessis
3. Antoine Guillamon
4. Nicholaas Van Rensburg
5. Konstantine Mikautadze
6. Kelian Galletier
7. Yacouba Camara
8. Louis Picamoles.
Replacements:
16. Romain Ruffenach
17. Yvan Watremez
18. Mohamed Haouas
19. Julien Delannoy
20. Fulgence Ouedraogo
21. Gela Aprasidze
22. Joe Tomane
23. Jesse Mogg.
Castres (v Munster):
15. Geoffrey Palis
14. Kylian Jaminet
13. Thomas Combezou
12. Robert Ebersohn
11. David Smith
10. Julien Dumora
9. Rory Kockott
1. Antoine Tichit
2. Jody Jenneker
3. Damien Tussac
4. Alexandre Bias
5. Thibault Lassalle
6. Yannick Caballero
7. Steve Mafi
8. Alex Tulou.
Replacements:
16. Kevin Firmin
17. Tudor Stroe
18. Daniel Kotze
19. Victor Moreaux
20. Baptiste Delaporte
21. Yohan Domenech
22. Yohan Le Bourhis
23. Afusipa Taumoepeau.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
Probably about right to be fair..
So basically a description of each team in the order of how Paddy powers has them placed.
Don’t see the city thing to be honest … every year the English teams will win it according to these “power” rankings but yet… Last time they won was Chelsea ten years ago… Like Barry’s tea the English are all talk
@yoloboyz: Chelsea won in 2012. Not 2009.
@yoloboyz: Recon your right, can see Barcelona winning it again.
@Alan Brazil: I think anyone bar maybe porto has a decent chance… For me there is a group of faves (Manchester city,Liverpool, juventus, Barcelona ) then the rest with maybe Porto a bit behind the others….. Personally I just think the idea of city being favourites having failed so many times before and never having reached a final means they have no right to be the max favourite in my opinion
Wouldn’t shock me in the least bit if United ended up winning, they have a habit of drawing the weaker teams like Porto.
@Brian Connolly: Man United haven’t been in a quarter final in years to draw a weaker team?
@Brian Connolly: I think you’re mixing them up with city
@Alan Brazil: not talking about quarters, i mean in general. Best of luck to them tho, be great if ajax won
Juve to win it .