Boredeaux-Bègles fully loaded with French heavyweights for Connacht clash

Bordeaux-Begles' French fly-half Matthieu Jalibert kicks and scores a penalty.

Hopes that Bordeaux-Bègles would leave some of their stars at home have not materialised and the French heavyweights will come to the Sportsground almost fully loaded for the opening game of the Champions Cup.

Bordeaux-Bègles had half a dozen players in the French World Cup squad and four of them are starting in Galway.

French internationals Damian Penaud, who will be making his Champions Cup debut for them after his summer move from Clermont Auvergne, and out-half Matthieu Jalibert provide the stardust in a side where 30-year old scrum-half Maxime Lucu, will add considerable experience.

French tighthead Sipili Falatea also starts and when reinforcements are required, they can call on 151kg Tongan international Ben Tameifuna and 138kg South African Carlu Sadie to beef up their front row.

Winger Louise Bielle-Biarrey, the 20-year old bolter in the French World Cuo squad, and the versatile three-quarter Yoram Moefana, have not been included but it is still a very strong visiting side with former Wallaby Ben Tapuai in the centre while 35-year old hooker Clement Maynadier was capped eight times for France, while the back five includes Argentinian lock Guido Petti, former Wallaby Pete Samu and Japanese No.8 Tevita Tatafu who is originally from Tonga.

But many other teams with internationals from all over the world have floundered in the hostile conditions at the Sportsground and Connacht back rower Paul Boyle is hopeful the Galway venue will play its part again.

“They’re going to get something I'd say they’ve never experienced before when they arrive and they’re in the small away dressing room, it’s windy and wet and they go out onto the pitch across a dog track first... it won’t be something they’re used to,” said Boyle “That’s what makes our home ground special, I feel it’s a massive advantage for us, our home crowd.” Bordeaux-Bègles have had a mixed start to the domestic season, sitting in seventh in the Top 14 with five wins from their nine games so far, but they are clearly treating Europe seriously.

Of course, with former Irish U-20 coach Noel McNamara now part of their management, they will have got a good insight into what they might expect at the Sportsground, before they turn their attentions to Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears in Bordeaux next week.

Connacht, as expected, have Bundee Aki back for his first match since the World Cup after recovering from a hamstring injury and he forms an exciting centre partnership with Cathal Forde.

Mack Hansen moves to full-back — he played most of the game there against Leinster last weekend when Tiernan O’Halloran went off injured — while John Porch offers cover there having recovered from injury.

JJ Hanrahan again partners Caolin Blade at half-back and with David Hawkshaw on the bench, Connacht captain Jack Carty will have to wait a bit longer for his 200th appearance for the province.

“Bordeaux will arrive with a star-studded squad and, like many French sides, will have X-factor players who can light up a game if you give them the chance,” said Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins.

"For us, it is a fantastic opportunity show we can impose our personalities and style of play against a quality team on the biggest European stage.” 

Connacht: M Hansen; B Ralston, C Forde, B Aki, A Smith; JJ Hanrahan, C Blade (capt); D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham; D Murray, J Joyce; C Prendergast, S Hurley-Langton, S Jansen. 

Replacements: T McElroy, P Dooley, J Aungier, N Murray, C Oliver, M McDonald, D Hawkshaw, J Porch.

Bordeaux: R Buros; D Penaud, N Depoortere, B Tapuai, P Uberti; M Jalibert, M Lucu (capt); U Boniface, C Maynadier, S Falatea; G Petti, T Jolmes; P Bochaton, P Samu, T Tatafu. 

Replacements: M Lamothe, B Tameifuna, C Sadie, A Richard, B Vergnes-Taillefer, A Miquel, P Abadie, N Ducuing.