YOUR BIG WEEKEND GUIDE TO ALL OF THE CHAMPIONS CUP ACTION
POOL 1: BATH v TOULOUSE The Rec, 1pm LIVE on BT Sport 2
JAMIE ROBERTS returns after an eye injury as Bath bring back some of their big guns. Francois Louw returns from South Africa to start with Zach Mercer and Tom Ellis in the back row, while Freddie Burns stays at full-back. Toulouse give starts to Jerome Kaino, prop Charlie Faumuina and wing Cheslin Kolbe.
PREDICTION: Home win. POOL 2: EXETER v MUNSTER Sandy Park, 3.15pm LIVE on BT Sport 2
EXETER are on the hunt for European glory — and are fully-loaded for the visit of Munster. Jack Nowell and Henry Slade start with Harry Williams at tight-head. A back row of Dave Ewers, Don Armand and Matt Kvesic play, too. Munster are skippered by Lion Peter O’Mahony. Former Sale man Mike Haley starts at full-back.
PREDICTION: Home win. POOL 5: MONTPELLIER v EDINBURGH Altrad Stadium, 3.15pm LIVE on BT Sport 3
MATT SCOTT and Dougie Fife come into an Edinburgh side playing their first Heineken Cup match for four years. Edinburgh give starts to Blair Kinghorn, Henry Pyrgos, Allan Dell, WP Nel and Hamish Watson. Montpellier’s pack includes Mikheil Nariashvili, Bismarck du Plessis and Louis Picamoles.
PREDICTION: Home win. POOL 4: SCARLETS v RACING 92 Parc y Scarlets, 5.30pm LIVE on BT Sport 3.
STEFF EVANS returns on the Scarlets wing in a side which boasts nine Wales Test players. Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies and Hadleigh Parkes all start, with Samson Lee, Wyn Jones and Ken Owens in the front row. The Parisians have Finn Russell, Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo all starting.
PREDICTION: Home win.
POOL 4: ULSTER v LEICESTER Kingspan Stadium, 5.30pm LIVE on BT Sport 2.
JORDAN OLOWOFELA makes his European debut, in for the injured Jonny May on Leicester’s left wing. Manu Tuilagi, Kyle Eastmond, Ben Youngs and George Ford all play for the English side. Ulster are captained by Irish stalwart Rory Best and have star wing Jacob Stockdale ready to cause havoc out wide.
PREDICTION: Home win. POOL 2: GLOUCESTER v CASTRES Kingsholm. Tomorrow 1pm LIVE on BT Sport 2.
DANNY CIPRIANI wears Cherry & White for the first time in Europe. Jason Woodward returns to the side as a starter, and Tom Savage and Tom Marshall are ready for their first appearances of the season. The French champions leave Rory Kockott on the bench as well as triple European Cup winner David Smith.
PREDICTION: Home win. POOL 3: LYON v CARDIFF BLUES Stade de Gerland. Tomorrow 1pm LIVE on BT Sport 3.
JOSH NAVIDI and Ellis Jenkins start on the flanks for the Blues — with Gareth Anscombe and Owen Lane also looking to catch Wales boss Warren Gatland’s eye. He names his next squad on Tuesday. Lyon have the mercurial Lionel Beauxis at fly-half, and All Black Charlie Ngatai at full-back.
PREDICTION: Home win POOL 3: GLASGOW v SARACENS Scotstoun. Tomorrow 3.15pm LIVE on BT Sport 2.
MARO ITOJE starts at flanker for Saracens as they look to win back their European crown. Owen Farrell, Alex Lozowski, Michael Rhodes, Jamie George and Mako and Billy Vunipola all start. Glasgow are without the injured Stuart Hogg but still have Huw Jones, Ryan Wilson and Jonny Gray in their starting ranks.
PREDICTION: Away win. POOL 5: TOULON v NEWCASTLE Stade Mayol. Tomorrow 3.15pm LIVE on BT Sport 3.
THE Falcons are in a flap because they will be without Toby Flood, Vereniki Goneva and Will Welch — all injured. Mark Wilson and Gary Graham do start, however, as does Sinoti Sinoti. Toulon are struggling domestically but Guilhem Guirado, Francois Trinh-Duc, Julian Savea and JP Pietersen all start.
PREDICTION: Home win.