Amlin Challenge Cup - Pool 4, Round 1 - Chiefs, Dragons, Prato & USAP

From the ERC website:

"USA Perpignan vs Exeter Chiefs
(Friday November 11th, KO 1945)

PERPIGNAN, last season's Heineken Cup semi-finalists, return to Amlin Challenge Cup action after nearly a decade when they host the Exeter Chiefs at the Stade Aime Giral on Friday night. Share The Catalan giants last played in the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2001 and with new signings of the calibre of mercurial Welshman, James Hook, will be viewed as one of the favourites to reach the final in London.
The Chiefs, who are in only their second season of European action of any kind, will experience the unique atmosphere of one of the great rugby citadels when they travel to Perpignan.

But coach Rob Baxter will be hoping his side can build on the two wins on French soil they achieved in last season's competition when they did the double over Bourgoin.

I Cavalieri Prato v Newport Gwent Dragons
(Saturday November 12, KO 14:30)

I CAVALIERI PRATO will be looking hoping to add to the Newport Gwent Dragons recent woes on Italian soil when they host the Welsh region at the Stadio Lungobisenzio on Saturday.

The Welsh region recently suffered a one-sided away defeat to Treviso in the Pro 12 in Italy and will be looking to kick off their first Amlin Challenge campaign for four years. The Men of Gwent will be without skipper and lock Luke Charteris, who impressed during Wales' recent World Cup campaign in New Zealand, but will be looking to the likes of Dan Lydiate, Lloyd Burns and Toby Faletau to lead them to victory.

The Italian outfit, who were runners up in last season's Super 10 competition, will be hoping to build on their solitary European victory over Connacht in last season's Amlin Challenge Cup. "

Absolutely gutted that I can't manage the trip to Perpignan, as last year's fixture away to Montpellier was a personal highlight of the season - there's something about the south of France as a hotbed of rugby - just love it.

Sounds as tho Exe are going to go for it vs USAP - same team as narrwoly lost to Glaws is the rumour, with just Tatupu replacing Naqer who broke his arm and Ben White stepping in to give TJ a rest. Will be interesting to see which way USAP's new head coach Jacques Delmas goes in the Amlin this year - concentrate on a top 6 T14 place with guaranteed Heino rugby next year, or battle on both fronts? Anyhew, visiting the Stade Aimé Giral is never going to be easy

Dragons thoughts on their fixture vs Prato?

Chiefs team confirmed in the Express and Echo:

Exeter Chiefs: Arscott; Camacho, Tatupu, Shoemark, Jess; Steenson, Phibbs; Sturgess, Clark, Tui, Hayes, Hanks, White, Scaysbrook, Baxter. Reps: Alcott, Moon, Mitchell, Phillips, Johnson, Barrett, Mieres, Dollman

So, confirmation that the Phibbs-Steenson half-back partnershipwill get another shot - I thought Phibbs looked good against Glaws, but Steeno was disappointing. Phillips on to the bench instead of Bentos, and no place for Muldowney or Budgie

No absolutely nothing about Prato but with all the big names (bar Charteris) hopefully making come backs we can kick the campaign off with a good away win.

Not looking forward to the awy game gainst Perp as think it could be bit of tonking, really looking forward to the Exeter game as well.

Very much the unknown for me too with regards to Prato. I'm hoping we might sneak a win and then catch USAP out the following week at Dave (I don't know if they will fancy a cold Thursday evening at Dave Parade).

With regards to the group, well USAP to win it, Chiefs 2nd. I think only top team will go through from ours (isn't there only one or two runners up through to the quarters?) though, so that's USAP. As a Dragons supporter I'm pretty non plussed about this competition though.

Rev, I think its only winners in the Amlin pools that go thru, but they get joined by runners-up from the Heino pools (aside from the top 2?) that drop down

Think you should comfortably take Prato and be looking for a TBP. It will be interesting to see where USAP's interests lie - a sneak result against them at DP would position you nicely

And I think the Exeter game should be pretty close - although they'll go into the game as favourites you've def got a chance of winning! And then the whole Amlin is your oyster!

Risca,

Pretty sure its only the winners and whilst not ideal and think we have a pretty hard group I do believe a season or two in this comp will be better for us.

I reckon we can get 3 poss 4 wins in this comp, Parto x2, Exeter home then as you say maybe Perp on a cold damp Thursday at Dave.

USAP team

forwards: Schuster, Pulu, Mas, Thiart, Guirado, Géli, Tchale-Watchou, Vivalda, Olibeau, Vahaamaina, Tuilagi, Le Corvec, Guiry, Tonita.

backs : Cazenave, Boulogne, Hook, Laharrague, Hume, Marty, Candelon, Planté, Michel.

No Mermoz, Sid , Porical and Tincu (small injuries) otherwise pretty much A team...
after last weekend, am confindent of USAP capability so perpighan by 15

read that charteris is injured?

He picked up a knock in last WC game, just taking bit longer to recover I have read/heard.

USAP starting line-up (from BBC):

Perpignan: Michel; Plante, Marty, Hume, Candelon; Hook, Cazenave; Schuster, Guirado, Mas (capt); Vivalda, Tchale Watchou; Le Corvec, Guiry, Tuilagi.

Replacements: Geli, Pulu, Thiart, Olibeau, Taofifenua, Tonita, Boulogne, Laharrague.

8 changes from last week's starting XV

I got confused by the pools aye. Top through and three teams drop from the Heino for the quarters. I thought there was only four pools for some reason.

The thing with the Chiefs is their pack will monster ours in the scrums and maybe mauls (well as will Prato's and USAP's probably).

Hook makes them favourites to win? Did they see the Ospreys in Europe when he was their outside half!

FACEPALM!

(can we have that smiley back please)

Risca Rev wrote:
The thing with the Chiefs is their pack will monster ours in the scrums and maybe mauls (well as will Prato's and USAP's probably).

Risca,

Thats why I still think we should have put a bid in for Mitchell!!!!!!!

Glas a du wrote:Hook makes them favourites to win? Did they see the Ospreys in Europe when he was their outside half!

FACEPALM!

(can we have that smiley back please)

By all accounts, he played very well in 10 last weekend, Glas - may have been a flash in the pan, mind?

He kicked a drop goal but missed at least one penalty. He had good games for the Ospreys, but never against Leicester or other big teams in the HC. By the time he and Phillips had looked to see if anything was on for them, Henson, Williams and Byrne had no chance.

:facepalm:

Hope he repeats his O's big game form then

Dragons team

Martyn Thomas, Tondi Chavhanga, Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith (c), Aled Breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew, Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans, Nathan Williams, Rhys Buckley, Dan Way, Rob Sidoli, Scott Morgan, Danny Lydiate, Gavin Thomas, Toby Faletau.

Hugh Gustafson, Lloyd Burns (would prefer him to start), Nathan Buck, Andrew Coombs, Lewis Evans, Joe Bedford, Lewis Robling, Steffan Jones.

Get that backline some tidy ball forwards and we'll be laughing.

Thats a really good side except for the front 5 (kind of like the Scarlets) if you can get some go foward and good possession like you say you'll be laughing all the way to the try line

Risca Rev wrote:Dragons team

Martyn Thomas, Tondi Chavhanga, Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith (c), Aled Breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew, Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans, Nathan Williams, Rhys Buckley, Dan Way, Rob Sidoli, Scott Morgan, Danny Lydiate, Gavin Thomas, Toby Faletau.

Hugh Gustafson, Lloyd Burns (would prefer him to start), Nathan Buck, Andrew Coombs, Lewis Evans, Joe Bedford, Lewis Robling, Steffan Jones.

Get that backline some tidy ball forwards and we'll be laughing.

Who's still to come back that would bolster your front five before we play you, Rev?

Charteris, Burns, (Sand) Castle, Burns (to start)

Can't think of any others but I'm sure the dragons fans will

Yeah maybe Phil Price too Smirnoff. Still, on the whole it's like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic when we pick a front five. Chiefs will be ok in that area.

Risca Rev wrote:Still, on the whole it's like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic when we pick a front five.

Looking back over the full weekend, have to say am very happy with Exe's LBP awaay to Perpignan, who after all appeared in the last season's HC semi-final - think the Chiefs will be able to take a lot from this game, particularly as they came the closer of the two sides to crossing the whitewash: Baxter encouraged

Congrats to Dragons on their TBP away to Prato