Stade Francais v Benetton Treviso preview: Team news, kick-off time, line-ups, odds and stats for the Champions Cup clash - Ruck

Stade Francais v Benetton Treviso preview: Team news, kick-off time, line-ups, odds and stats for the Champions Cup clash

  • Stade Francais look to continue their resurgence in the European Champions Cup against Treviso on Saturday: 15:15 kick-off
  • The French hosts have made 12 changes to their starting XV
  • Treviso have ten new faces in their side after last weekends thumping 
Stade Francais will keep their quarter-final hopes alive if they beat visiting Treviso in Paris on Saturday.

The French side racked up a bonus-point victory in Italy last weekend to pick up their first win in Pool 4 after losing to Leicester in the opening round.

Another bonus-point win over the Guinness PRO12 outfit would leave them well-placed ahead of the final rounds of fixtures in January, which will include a rearranged game against Munster.

Just four players from the run-on side that beat Treviso 50-17 last week are retained but the Top 14 champions have nevertheless named a very good team.

The home side are in very good form in European rugby, especially at home. Stade Français extended their unbeaten run to 17 games against Italian opposition in European competition (Champions Cup and Challenge Cup) last time out have won an incredible 35 of their 37 home fixtures in the Champions Cup, including each of their last four.

Djibril Camara moves from full-back to wing while Sergio Parisse and Sylvain Nicolas continue in the back-row. Hugh Pyle and Laurent Sempéré start at lock and hooker respectively but the rest of the team is changed.

Springbok fly-half Morné Steyn is given the number ten jersey while French international Rabah Slimani returns at tighthead prop.

Meanwhile, Treviso have ten new faces in their side. Simone Ragusi replaces Luke McLean at full-back while Alberto Sgarbi starts at inside centre. All eight positions in the pack are changed with Alessandro Zanni moving from eight to flank as the only player to retain a place in the starting pack.

Treviso have scored just 30 points in their last seven Champions Cup fixtures away from home and have lost their last 23 in a row on the road, their last win coming in 2007.


KEY STATS
  • Stade Français extended their unbeaten run to 17 games against Italian opposition in European competition last weekend
  • The All Pink’s have won an incredible 35 of their 37 home fixtures in the Champions Cup, including each of their last four
  • The hosts have also averaged more tackles per game (156) than any other side after three rounds of action this season
  • Treviso have scored just 30 points in their last seven Champions Cup fixtures away from home and have lost their last 23 in a row on the road

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Stade Francais: Sergio Parisse
Treviso: Simone Ragusi

Stade Français: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Josaia Raisuqe, 13 Geoffrey, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Djibril Camara, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Julien Tomas, 8 Sergio Parisse 7 Sylvain Nicolas, 6 Raphael Lakafia, 5 Paul Gabrillagues, 4 Hugh Pyle, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Laurent Sempéré, 1 Emmanuel Felsina.
Replacements: 16 Laurent Panis, 17 Zurabi Zhvania, 18 Paul Alo Emile, 19 Gerhard Mostert, 20 Jonathan Ross, 21 Clement Daguin, 22 Herman Meyer Bosman, 23 Waisea Vuidarvuwalu.

Treviso: 15 Simone Ragusi, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Enrico Bacchin, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Tommaso Iannone, 10 Jayden Hayward, 9 Christopher Smylie, 8 Abraham Jurgens Steyn 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Marco Barbini, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Marco Lazzaroni, 3 Salesi Manu, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 1 Alberto de Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matteo Zanusso, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Filo Paulo, 20 Marco Fuser, 21 Robert Barbieri, 22 Samuel Christie, 23 James Ambrosini.


Date: Saturday, December 19
Venue: Stade Jean Bouin
Kick-off: 16:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant Referees: Dean Richards (England), Kevin Stewart (England)
TMO: David Sainsbury (England)