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Bordeaux-Bègles face Exeter in the Champions Cup on Saturday: 13:00 kick-off
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The hosts make 11 changes for the clash
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Ollie Atkins and Olly Woodburn are the only players retained in the Chiefs starting XV
Bordeaux-Bègles have made 11 changes for their Round 5 Champions Cup clash at home to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
Australia star Adam Ashley-Cooper returns at outside centre along with Jean-Marcellin Buttin, Julien Rey, Blair Connor, Pierre Bernard and Yann Lesgourges in the UBB backline.
Upfront there’s a spot for Loann Goujon and Hugh Chalmers in the hosts’ back row, while in the tight five Jan Andre Marais is back along with Francisco Gomez Kodela, who takes over from Sekope Kepu, and Ole Avei.
Meanwhile, Exeter will be without England internationals Jack Nowell and Geoff Parling.
Winger Nowell has a twisted knee while Parling also picked up an injury in Saturday’s win over Gloucester.
Second row Ollie Atkins and wing Olly Woodburn are the only two men to keep their places in a much-changed line-up.
Tom Johnson comes in at blind-side flanker while Italy international Michele Campagnaro is at centre.
Will Hooley starts at fly-half following his summer move to the club from Northampton and forms an untested half-back partnership with Dave Lewis, who is yet to make a start in the Premiership this season.
KEY STATS
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Exeter have won twice in their last eight away games in the Champions Cup with both of those wins coming in Wales
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This will be the Chiefs; fourth consecutive game against French opposition
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Bordeaux have lost 15 of their last 17 European games against English sides (including Challenge Cup), with both of those wins coming against London Welsh
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Olly Woodburn scored two tries in the reverse fixture between these sides, one of just two occasions an Exeter player has scored a brace in a Champions Cup game (Thomas Waldrom v Clermont in Round 3).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bordeaux: Adam Ashley-Cooper
Exeter: Olly Woodburn
Bordeaux-Bègles: 15 Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 14 Metuisela Talebulamaijaina, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Julien Rey, 11 Blair Connor, 10 Pierre Bernard, 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 8 Loann Goujon, 7 Hugh Chalmers, 6 Louis Madaule, 5 Adam Jaulhac, 4 Jan Andre Marais, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Benat Auzqui, 17 Sébastien Taofifenua, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Cyril Cazeaux, 20 Marco Tauleigne, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Lionel Beauxis, 23 Felix Le Bourhis
Exeter: 15 Byron McGuigan, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Max Bodilly, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Will Hooley, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Kai Horstmann (c), 7 Ben White, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Ollie Atkins, 3 Alex Brown, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Moray Low
Replacements: 16 Shaun Malton, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Carl Rimmer, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Julian Salvi, 21 Haydn Thomas, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Chrysander Botha
Date: Saturday, January 16
Venue: Stade Chaban-Delmas
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)