Ireland out-halves Paddy Jackson and Ian Madigan are set for a potentially match-defining individual battle as Ulster make the trip to Bordeaux-Bègles in the opening round of the Champions Cup.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 5: Sunday, October 16
BORDEAUX-BEGLES v ULSTER, Stade Chaban-Delmas, 2pm local time/1pm Irish time (live Sky Sports 3 HD/beIN Sports/BBC Radio Ulster MW/Newstalk/highlights TG4)
Team News: Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding and Ruan Pienaar all return to the Ulster back-line for the European Champions Cup opener away to Bordeaux-Bègles on Sunday.
Trimble will captain the Ulstermen from the right wing, with Craig Gilroy and Jared Payne retaining their starting places in the back-three.
There are four changes to the pack from last week’s GUINNESS PRO12 outing against Connacht, with Andrew Warwick coming in at loosehead prop to join Rory Best and Rodney Ah You in the front row.
The second row pairing of Alan O’Connor and Franco van der Merwe that featured in the back-to-back wins over Glasgow Warriors and the Scarlets is preferred again, while number 8 Sean Reidy comes in to pack down alongside Iain Henderson and Clive Ross in the back row.
With Charles Piutau, Louis Ludik, Darren Cave and Stuart McCloskey all unavailable due to injury, the province’s back-line will be supported by Paul Marshall, Jacob Stockdale and Robert Lyttle from the bench. Rob Herring, Kyle McCall, Ross Kane, Peter Browne and Roger Wilson will provide the cover for the forwards.
Meanwhile, Ireland international Ian Madigan gets the nod over Lionel Beauxis to don the number 10 jersey for Bordeaux-Bègles’ opening Pool 5 fixture.
Beauxis drops to the bench despite kicking six from six for a 17-point haul during last week’s 27-25 home win over Brive. Australian wingers Adam Ashley-Cooper and Blair Connor scored a try apiece in that Top 14 game.
Bordeaux-Bègles boss Raphael Ibanez has brought full-back Jean-Marcellin Buttin, centre Jean-Baptiste Dubié and half-backs Madigan and Yann Lesgourgues into a rejigged back-line.
There are three straight swaps in the front row as Jefferson Poirot, hooker Clement Maynadier and Vadim Cobilas from Moldova are all bumped up from the replacements, while three-times capped Wallaby Luke Jones moves from the second row to the back row.
Cyril Cazeaux partners the club’s South African captain Jandré Marais in the engine room, with New Zealander Hugh Chalmers and French international Loann Goujon retained at openside flanker and number 8 respectively.
BORDEAUX-BEGLES: Jean-Marcellin Buttin; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Jean-Baptiste Dubié, Romain Lonca, Blair Connor; Ian Madigan, Yann Lesgourgues; Jefferson Poirot, Clement Maynadier, Vadim Cobilas, Jandré Marais (capt), Cyril Cazeaux, Luke Jones, Hugh Chalmers, Loann Goujon.
Replacements: Ole Avei, Sébastien Taofifenua, Marc Clerc, Tom Palmer, Marco Tauleigne, Baptiste Serin, Lionel Beauxis, Metuisela Talebulamaijaina.
ULSTER: Jared Payne; Andrew Trimble (capt), Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best, Rodney Ah You, Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Clive Ross, Sean Reidy.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Kyle McCall, Ross Kane, Pete Browne, Roger Wilson, Paul Marshall, Jacob Stockdale, Robert Lyttle.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant Referees: John Meredith, Peter Allan (both England)
Television Match Official: Graham Hughes (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Bordeaux-Begles to win: 4/7; Draw: 17/1; Ulster to win: 6/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Les Kiss (Ulster) – “There are plenty of subplots for sure. There has been a massive advancement from Paddy (Jackson) and, if you look at a lot of Bordeaux games, Mads (Ian Madigan) is playing lovely stuff too.
“There are some similarities in their game, they can take the ball to the line, thy can play with width. I think it is going to be a compelling challenge in that area for sure.
“Ian is kicking goals from everywhere, he’s pretty dead-eyed at the moment. It could come down to a kick here or there and it is going to be a massive challenge for us.”
Ian Madigan (Bordeaux-Bègles) – “Beating Clermont away (in the final round of last season’s pool stages) was a great achievement. Bordeaux proved themselves last year in Europe, that they can go toe to toe with the best teams.
“It will be a great challenge. Ulster will be a great challenge, with the signings they have made and the age profile, they will be a year better.
“Paddy is improving every year he is getting older. He is a quality player and they have an excellent team and a quality coach. We know what we are up against.”
Current Form – Bordeaux-Bègles – (Top 14 Championship): Won 15-9 v Racing 92 (home), Lost 22-17 v Toulouse (away), Lost 32-15 v Montpellier (home), Won 40-20 v Bayonne (home), Lost 40-16 v Clermont Auvergne (away), Won 32-10 v Lyon (home), Won 30-28 v Pau (away), Won 27-25 v Brive (home)
Ulster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 29-8 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), Won 22-11 v Benetton Treviso (away), Won 19-8 v Scarlets (home), Won 22-17 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Won 9-7 v Ospreys (home), Lost 30-25 v Connacht (away)
Top Scorers – 2015/16 European Champions Cup: Bordeaux-Bègles – Points: Pierre Bernard 30; Tries: Julien Rey, Yann Lesgourgues, Berend Botha 2 each; Ulster – Points: Paddy Jackson 54; Tries: Luke Marshall 3
Previous European Meetings: 1
Wednesday, December 13, 1995 – Pool B – Ulster 16 Bordeaux 29, Ravenhill
European Cup Records:
Bordeaux-Bègles –
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
1998//99: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool B
Ulster –
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Reached the quarter-finals
2011/12: Runners-up
2010/11: Reached the quarter-finals
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2002/03: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1998/99: Champions
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool C
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool B
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