Preview: Viadana v Clermont
January 22 2010
Viadana have the unenviable task of hosting a Clermont side seeking a bonus-point win in Saturday's Heineken Cup Pool Three clash at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella.
This season's tightest pool sees three teams - Leicester, the Ospreys and Clermont - currently separated by one point.
A bonus-point success for Clermont against hapless Italians Viadana on Saturday would see them top the group, provided Leicester do not beat the Ospreys with a bonus. The winners in Swansea will progress - probably as the best runner-up.
With tries at a premium, Clermont have moved to make sure they secure plenty of possession by moving bruising lock Jamie Cudmore into the third row which means Elvis Vermeulen drops to the bench.
Recalled France Test veteran Aurelien Rougerie starts at outside centre as he has done most of this season.
The the look of Clermont side is enough to send a cold shudder down the spine of most teams as t5he bench is also packed with firepower in the form of Tasesa Lavea and Brent Russell.
The French side won 36-18 in Clermont and a similar result is likely.
The teams:
Viadana:15 Garry Law, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Sam Cox, 12 Lloyd Johansson, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Pierre Hola, 9 Pablo Canavosio, 8 Jaco Erasmus,7 Andrea Benatti, 6 Aaron Persico, 5 Sean Hohneck, 4 Carlo del Fava, 3 Julio Garcia, 2 Luigi Ferraro, 1 Plinio Sciamanna.
Replacements:16 Roberto Santamaria, 17 Luigi Milani, 18 Mattia Cagna, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Gareth Krause, 21 Andrea Brancoli, 22 Josh Sole, 23 Samuele Pace
Clermont:15 Anthony Floch, 14 Napoliani Nalaga, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Gonzalo Canale, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Brock James, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Jamie Cudmore, 5 Thibault Privat, 4 Julien Pierre, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Lionel Faure, 18 Martin Scelzo, 19 Elvis Vermeulen, 20 Alexandre Audebert, 21 Kevin Senio, 22 Tasesa Lavea, 23 Brent Russell.
Date:Saturday, January 23
Venue: Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Kick-off:14:35 (13.45 GMT)
Referee:Andrew Small