Preview: Bourgoin v Exeter Chiefs

Exeter travel to Bourgoin in Round Two of the Amlin Challenge Cup with both teams looking for their first victory.

Exeter travel to Bourgoin in Round Two of the Amlin Challenge Cup with both teams looking for their first win.

Chiefs lost 20 -13 to another French side, Montpellier, in Round One while Bourgoin toppled to English opposition, on the road in Newcastle.

For the French side, first-choice half-backs Michaël Forest and Sébastien Laloo are back in the starting XV at 9 and 10 respectively.

Former Reds flyer Brando Va'aulu starts on the right wing.

Exeter assistant coach Ali Hepher accepts a vastly-improved effort is required to effectively keep alive Chiefs' interest in the competition.
“Anyone who knows rugby knows going to France are the toughest games you experience as a player and as a coach,” he said.
“We know we are going to have to buck up. If we perform like we did against Montpellier on Friday, we will get blitzed.”

“Some guys took their chance and there were definitely some positives out there (against Montpellier), but unfortunately there weren't enough (players) furthering their claims.
“Ideally, we would have liked a lot of boys to be knocking on our door for selection, but we do not have enough at this minute in time.”

Exeter retain just one of the forwards on duty against Montpellier – their former Northampton prop Chris Budgen – while notable returnees behind the scrum include full-back Luke Arscott, wing Mark Foster and fly-half Gareth Steenson.

The teams:

Bourgoin: 15 Mael Moinot, 14 Brando Va'aulu, 13 Matias Viazzo, 12 David Janin, 11 Ratu Nasiganiyavi, 10 Sebastien Laloo, 9 Mickaël Forest, 8 Yan Labrit, 7 Alex Tulou, 6 Timothy Cowley, 5 Camille Levast, 4 Thomas Genevois, 3 Stephane Bougherara, 2 Tone Alefa Kopelani, 1 Erwan Iapteff.
Replacements:16 Julien Janaudy, 17 Vincent Pelo, 18 Sylvain Charlet, 19 Albin Louchard, 20 Wessel Jooste, 21 Jérémy Gondrand, 22 Willem van Zyl, 23 Silvère Tian,

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Andy Higgins, 13 Phil Dollman, 12 Bryan Rennie, 11 Mark Foster, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 James Hanks, 4 Tom Hayes, 3 Chris Budgen, 2 Neil Clark, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements:16 Chris Whitehead, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Ignacio Elosu, 19 Dave Gannon, 20 Chad Slade, 21 Junior Poluleuligaga, 22 Garrick Cowley, 23 Nick Sestaret,

Date: Friday, October 15
Venue: Stade Pierre Rajon, Bourgoin
Kick-off: 19:30 (17.30 GMT)
Referee: James Jones