European Cup news: Bourgoin coach Christophe Urios has made four changes and a positional switch to the team that was hammered 53-7 for tomorrow's Heineken European Cup match against Leinster at the Stade Pierre Rajon. Former French international centre David Venditti is named in the centre where he'll partner Jean Francois Coux, the latter switching from the left wing.
David Janin comes into the three-quarter line. Up front there are two changes with French international secondrow Pascal Pape recovering from injury to take over from Italian Carlo del Fava. In the backrow Georgian Test player Wessel Jooste replaces Laurent Baluc-Rittener.
There is no doubt the Berjalliens, as they are known locally, are desperate to save face in front of their home crowd. Director of rugby Pierre Raschi spoke of the need to restore pride in the Bourgoin name. Outhalf Benjamin Boyet, who suffered a blow to the head in the RDS, has been named in the team.
Leinster will announce their team this morning but coach Michael Cheika is unlikely to make any alterations to the side that started the last day unless there is an injury concern. It is expected the Blaney brothers, Brian and David, will be fit to travel.
Meanwhile, Ulster and Ireland outhalf David Humphreys is set to reach a milestone at Vicarage Road tomorrow when he makes his 50th appearance in the European Cup and he is just six points short of breaking the 500-point mark in the tournament.
One of his keenest admirers is Saracens director of rugby Steve Diamond who tried to sign the Irishman two years ago when he first joined the London club from Sale Sharks. "(I'd) take nothing away from Ulster, they stuck to their game plan and David was magnificent.He can kick goals from 55 metres and his tactical kicking put pressure on our back three. He showed at Ravenhill why I tried to sign him for Saracens two years ago. Massive credit to him, but I am still confident we can win at home."
Diamond will decide today whether or not the former British rugby league captain Andy Farrell is fit for a possible union debut this weekend. Farrell joined Saracens from Wigan earlier this year in a deal partly-funded by the Rugby Football Union. But a toe injury and subsequent surgery meant he endured a frustrating lay-off.
Farrell has recently returned to full training, but it is understood he suffered a back spasm during a club session yesterday. And that could potentially destroy any prospect of him featuring as a replacement against Ulster. It appears Farrell's debut will now be delayed at least until the Premiership appointment with Vicarage Road visitors London Irish on December 27th.
Meanwhile, Worcester Warriors have signed 23-year-old New Zealand wing-cum-centre Mike Maguire from Otago's NPC side. Maguire holds an Irish passport and qualifies to play for Ireland. His initial contract keeps him at Sixways until the end of the season and he is expected to link up with Worcester before Christmas.
The fixtures for the Churchill Cup next June have been confirmed, a tournament that involves the A teams from Ireland, Scotland and England, the USA, Canada and the New Zealand Maoris. An Irish squad of 28 players will travel to San Francisco where they will play their two pool matches against the USA and New Zealand Maoris.
Connacht's Michael Bradley has been designated head coach and he will be assisted by the Ulster duo of Mark McCall and Allen Clarke with Joey Miles travelling as manager. The six teams are divided into two pools with all the competing nations coming together at the Commonwealth Stadium in Alberta, Canada, for a series of play-off matches.
Pool A (in San Francisco): USA, Ireland A, New Zealand Maoris. Pool B (in Toronto, Ottawa): Canada, England A, Scotland A.
FIXTURES: June 3rd: USA v Ireland A, San Francisco; England A v Scotland A, Toronto. June 7th: USA v New Zealand Maoris, San Francisco; Canada v Scotland A, Ottawa. June 10th: NZ Maoris v Ireland, San Francisco; Canada v England, Toronto. June 17th: Third Pool A v Third Pool B, Edmonton; Second Pool A v Second Pool B, Edmonton; Winners Pool A v Winners Pool B, Edmonton.
BOURGOIN: A Peclier; A Forest, D Venditti, JF Coux, D Janin; B Boyet, M Forest (capt); O Milloud, B Cabello, P Peyron; J Pierre, P Pape; J Frier, A Petrilli, W Jooste. Replacements (from): P Cardinalli, Davit Kinchagisvhili, F Montagnat, L Baluc Rittner, A Diotallevi, M Campeggia, N Carmona, G Davis, I Giorgadze.
LEINSTER SQUAD: Forwards (15): Reggie Corrigan, Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, David Blaney, Will Green, Emmett Byrne, Bryce Williams, Adam Byrnes, Malcolm O'Kelly, Ben Gissing, Cameron Jowitt, Keith Gleeson, Niall Ronan, Eric Miller, Jamie Heaslip. Backs (10): Guy Easterby, Brian O'Riordan, John Hepworth, Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, Felipe Contepomi, Gordon D'Arcy, Kieran Lewis, Girvan Dempsey, Eoghan Hickey.
