Edinburgh call on British & Irish Lions duo for Challenge Cup opener at Clermont

The 2023/24 Challenge Cup campaign kicks off on Friday night with one match as Clermont take on Edinburgh at Stade Marcel-Michelin in an intriguing clash.

The hosts will be led by loosehead Etienne Falgoux who is joined by Wallaby hooker Folau Fainga’a and Cristian Ojovan in the front-row whilst Test duo Thomas Lavanini and Rob Simmons complete the tight five.

All Black loose forward Pita Gus Sowakula starts at number eight with flankers Peceli Yato and Lucas Dessaigne rounding out the forward pack.

Scrum-half Sebastien Bezy and fly-half Anthony Belleau are the decision makers in the half-back pairing with Tongan star George Moala in the centres with Julien Heriteau.

Bautista Delguy and Thomas Roziere are joined by Alex Newsome in an exciting looking back-three.

On the pine, Samoan star Fritz Lee is a strong option alongside Killian Tixeront as back-row and second-row substitutions. Meanwhile, Yohan Beheregaray, Daniel Bibi Biziwu and Henzo Kiteau are front-row options.

Promising young scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau is joined by Jules Plisson and Pierre Fouyssac as backline replacements.

For Edinburgh, scrum-half Ben Vellacott is the captain on the night with Cammy Scott alongside him in the half-back pairing. The hard-running Mark Bennett partners with Chris Dean in the midfield whilst Duhan van der Merwe returns to his wing with Harry Paterson and Tim Swiel completing the back-three.

There are changes in the front-row with Robin Hislop and Javan Sebastian starting alongside hooker Ewan Ashman in the front-row, with Jamie Hodgson and Marshall Sykes just behind them rounding out the tight five.

Meanwhile, on the bench, hooker Adam McBurney, Boan Venter and Angus Williams will serve as front-row changes with Angus Williams, Glen Young and Connor Boyle as the other forwards substitutes.

Scrum-half Charlie Shiel is joined by Matt Currie and Wes Goosen as the remaining options for Edinburgh.

The teams

Clermont: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Julien Heriteau, 12 George Moala, 11 Thomas Roziere, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Sebastien Bezy, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Peceli Yato, 6 Lucas Dessaigne, 5 Thomas Lavanini, 4 Rob Simmons, Cristian Ojovan, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Etienne Falgoux (c)
Replacements: 16 Yohan Beheregaray, 17 Daniel Bibi Biziwu, 18 Henzo Kiteau, 19 Fritz Lee, 20 Killian Tixeront, 21 Baptiste Jauneau, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Pierre Fouyssac

Edinburgh: 15 Tim Swiel, 14 Harry Paterson, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Cammy Scott, 9 Ben Vellacott (c), 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Luke Crosbie, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Robin Hislop
Replacements: 16 Adam McBurney, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Angus Williams, 19 Glen Young, 20 Connor Boyle, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Matt Currie, 23 Wes Goosen

Venue: Stade Marcel-Michelin
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 GMT)
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Assistant Referees: Joy Neville (Ire), Padraic Reidy (Ire)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)

READ MORE: Manu Tuilagi to make timely return for Sale Sharks’ Champions Cup opener