Cell C Sharks look to make it two wins from two in the Heineken Champions Cup as they travel to Union Bordeaux-Bègles on Friday night at 22h00 (SA Time).
The South African side beat Harlequins 39-31 last weekend on their EPCR competition debut, while Bordeaux fell 22-17 at the hands of Gloucester Rugby.
While the Cell C Sharks were full value for their win last week and deserved victors, to say the least, they won’t have it easy against the team in the ninth spot on the Top 14 log.
A loss for Bordeaux in the first round away to Gloucester means little in the scheme of French rugby. They’re now playing at Stade Chaban-Delmas where home games are almost a religion and losing in front of their fan base is almost non-existent.
The Cell C Sharks will be well aware of the need to build pressure, hold on to the ball and turn possession into points in their quest for a second successive win in this prestigious competition.
Prediction: Cell C Sharks by 3.
The Cell C Sharks team to meet Bordeaux Bègles for Friday evening’s Heineken Champions Cup clash at Stade Chaban-Delmas shows minimal changes to the side that defeated Harlequins at Hollywoodbets Kings Park last Saturday.
The Cell C Sharks’ mettle will once again be tested as they face up to their Top 14 participants in their second-round match in icy cold Bordeaux.
Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell has largely stuck with the same team that defeated Harlequins 39-31, although there is the welcome return of a very familiar face, Lukhanyo Am, who plays off the bench.
Am has completed his return to play and his presence later in the game will no doubt underline why he was nominated for the prestigious 2022 World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year award.
Also back in the side is Thomas du Toit following his suspension and he replaces Carlu Sadie in the front row, with Ntuthuko Mchunu in for Ox Nche the only other change to the starting line-up.
Cell C Sharks director of rugby Neil Powell said “We feel we are moving in the right direction, although there are things we can do better and we’ll identify them before the next game. We will need to show better discipline and there are other areas of our game we would like to improve on before Friday night’s game. But the amazing thing about this team is that all the individuals are making a step up and doing what we expect of them.”
Teams
Bordeaux-Bègles: 15. Nans Ducuing, 14. Geoffrey Cros, 13. Jean-Baptiste Dubié, 12. Federico Mori, 11. Madosh Tambwe, 10. Zack Holmes, 9. Jules Gimbert, 8. Caleb Timu, 7. Antoine Miquel, 6. Renato Giammarioli, 5. Jandré Marais (c), 4. Cyril Cazeaux, 3. Vadim Cobilas, 2. Clement Maynadier, 1. Lekso Kaulashvili. Replacements: 16. Maxime Lamothe, 17. Ben Tameifuna, 18. Christopher Vaotoa, 19. Alban Roussel, 20. Tom Willis, 21. Santiago Cordero, 22. Matéo Garcia, 23. Rémi Lamerat.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Boeta Chamberlain, 14. Werner Kok, 13. Francois Venter, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Makazola Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Jaden Hendrikse, 8. Phendulani Buthelezi, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Siyamthanda Kolisi (c), 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16. Dan Jooste, 17. Dian Bleuler, 18. Hanro Jacobs, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21. Grant Williams, 22. Lionel Cronje, 23. Lukhanyo Am.
