Preview: Grenoble v Viadana

Editor

Grenoble have made six changes to their starting XV for Friday's Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Viadana at Stade Lesdiguieres.

Grenoble have made six changes to their starting XV for Friday's Amlin Challenge Cup clash with Viadana at Stade Lesdiguieres.

Amongst the backs, there are two changes with full-back Fabien Gengenbacher, who captained the team during last weekend's away loss to Bayonne, being replaced by Jordan Michallet while Olly Barkley takes over from Michallet at fly-half.

Up front, Florian Faure takes over from Flavien Nouhaillaguet at number eight while Alten Hulme replaces fellow South African Hendrik Roodt in the second row.

In the front row there are two changes with Vincent Campo coming in for Florian Lescadieu at hooker while Romain David is preferred at looshead prop to Kenan Mutapcic.

Viadana have rung the changes after last weekend's humiliating 90-17 defeat to Wasps. There are 11 new faces in this week's run in total.

At full-back, Marco Antonio Gennari starts in place of Kaine Robertson while Daniel Rudolf Yakopo switches from left to right wing. Gilberto Pavan and Juan Pablo Sanchez form a new midfield combination and Keanu John Apperley-Iti retains his position at fly-half.

In the forwards, there's a new back row with Christoffell Johanne Du Plessis, Andrea Denti, Pietro Moreschi replacing Gonzalo Padro, Andrea Barbieri and Liviu Pascu respectively while Matteo Minari comes in at Joubert Prinsloo Horn's expense. Minari also replaces Apperley-Iti as the side's captain.

At hooker Luca Bigi replaces Antonio Denti and Marco Coletti comes in at loosehead prop for Giulio Cenedese.

These two teams have never met in European before but Grenoble are yet to lose to Italian opposition, with four victories from four in their previous matches.

Viadana have not won in Europe since defeating Mont de Marsan in 2008.

The teams:

Grenoble: 15 Jordan Michallet, 14 Ratu Alipate Ratini, 13 Rida Jaouher, 12 Geoffroy Messina, 11 Daniel Kilioni, 10 Olly Barkley, 9 Nicolas Bezy, 8 Florian Faure, 7 Fabien Alexandre, 6 Cedric Beal, 5 Alten Hulme, 4 Thibault Rey, 3 Richard Choirat, 2 Vincent Campo (capt), 1 Romain David.
Replacements: 16 Florian Lescadieu, 17 Kenan Mutapcic, 18 Kevin Goze, 19 Geoffrey Nouhaillaguet, 20 James Hart, 21 Matthieu Nicolas, 22 Shane O'Leary, 23 Henri Vanderglas.

Viadana: 15 Marco Antonio Gennari, 14 Daniel Rudolf Yakopo, 13 Gilberto Pavan, 12 Juan Pablo Sanchez, 11 Riccardo Pavan, 10 Keanu John Apperley-Iti, 9 Pietro Travagli, 8 Christoffell Johanne Du Plessis, 7 Andrea Denti, 6 Pietro Moreschi, 5 Matteo Minari (capt), 4 Ruahan Van Jaarsveld, 3 Riccardo Cagna, 2 Luca Bigi , 1 Marco Coletti.
Replacements: 16 Antonio Denti, 17 Giulio Cenedese, 18 Luca Marchini, 19 Mirko Monfrino, 20 Federico Manuini, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Gianmarco Amadasi , 23 Anthony Michael Fenner.

Date: Friday, 18 October
Venue: Stade Lesdiguieres
Kick-off: 19.30 local
Referee: Neil Hennessy (Wales)
Assistant referees: Neil Perkins (Wales), Kelvin Shorte (Wales)