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investec-champions-cup
Back to back Investec Champions Cup winners Bordeaux-Bègles were forced into an unconventional selection to start their title defense against Gloucester, with 148kg prop Ben Tameifuna named in the second row at Kingsholm.
That 1.82 m stonemason will be the first Bordeaux performance of the season in the number 5 shirt alongside Cameron Woki on Friday night, while the visitors were also forced into an unusual full-back combination in the absence of Matthieu Jalibert.
France Scrum-half Maxime Lucu moves to fly-half, with Martin Page-Rela wearing the No.9 jersey, while Yannick Bru changes his side from last weekend’s game Top 14 meeting with Clermont.
Bordeaux also opted for a six-two split on the bench, with Connor Sa, Matis Perchaud, Lasha Pkhakadze, Adam Zapedowski, Pierre Bochaton and Elyjah Ibsaiene leading the way. Xan Mousques and Romain Buros are the only defenders among the substitutes, who do not leave a single halfback specialist on the bench.
It represents another significant challenge for a Gloucester a side that started their Gallagher PREM campaign strong and strong Leicester The Tigers close at Welford Road last weekend.
George Skivington has named Jean Kleyn and Arthur Clark in the second row who will be tasked with facing the unusual combination of Woki-Tameifun, while newcomers Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan start in the pack.
Gloucester XV: 15 George Barton; 14 Will Joseph, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ben Loader; 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Dan Robson; 1 Dian Bleuler, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 3 Ciaran Knight, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Arthur Clark, 6 Deian Gwynne, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Jack Clement.
Replacements: 16 Seb Blake, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Eliot Salt, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Will Trenholm, 21 Lewis Ludlow, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Will Knight.
Bordeaux-Begles XV: 15 Charles Rice; 14 Pablo Uberti, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 10 Maxime Lucu (c), 9 Martin Page-Relo; 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Sibyl Falatea, 4 Cameron Woki, 5 Ben Tameifuna, 6 Marco Gazzotti, 7 Temo Mathieu, 8 Tom Willis.
Replacements: 16 Connor Sa, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Lasha Pkhakadze, 19 Adam Zapedowski, 20 Pierre Bochaton, 21 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 22 Xan Mousques, 23 Romain Buros.
