Clermont look to get season underway with a win in Scotland

One only needs to look at the composition that the yellow and blue will face, to see that competition will be tough this season. ASM Clermont Auvergne boasts a very solid team which is ready for to begin their Challenge Cup campaign. Behind a powerful pack where Pita-Gus Sowakula will honor his first tenure at Michelin, Anthony Belleau returns to the hinge alongside Sébastien Bézy. Baptiste Jauneau returns to competition after his sprained ankle.

Apart from a few injured players (Irae Simone, Benjamin Urdapilleta and Enzo Sanga who were added last week) or spared (like Thibaud Lanen, Marcos Kremer or Rabah Slimani) most of the starters from last week against Racing 92 will walk out against the Scots in Edinburgh. Front rower Etienne Falgoux-Folau Fainga'a-Cristian Ojovan and Australian Rob Simmons who will form the team, alongse Tomas Lavanini  who will earn his first start of the season after his return last week, against Racing 92). 

The team has seen some adjustments due to injuries to Benjamin Urdapilleta (elbow) and Irae Simone (knee). Anthony Belleau along with Sébastien Bézy will lead the Auvergnats' game while Julien Hériteau (starter against Bayonne, Montpellier and Toulon) finds George Moala . No change in the back of the field where the two wingers Bautista Delguy and Thomas Roziere will supervise Alex Newsome. On the Clermont bench, we will note the return of Baptiste Jauneau (recovered from his sprained ankle) as well as the entries of Jules Plisson and Henzo Kiteau.

There are still places left for the Challenge Cup match against the Scots from Edinburgh, which will kick off tomorrow at 9 p.m. on the Michelin pitch.