| Venue: Gtech Neighborhood Stadium Date: Friday, 9 December Kick-off: 20:00 GMT |
| Protection: Reside rating updates on BBC native radio and on the BBC Sport web site |
Fly-half Paddy Jackson will steer London Irish as they start their first Champions Cup run in additional than a decade in opposition to French champions Montpellier.
Benhard van Rensburg comes into the centres with Australian internationals Rob Simmons and Adam Coleman at lock.
Samoa’s So’otala Fa’aso’o returns at quantity eight.
Fa’aso’o will line up in opposition to England worldwide Zach Mercer, who’s a part of the guests’ line-up.
Former Northampton scrum-half Cobus Reinach is a part of an thrilling backline that additionally options Italy’s Paolo Garbisi at inside centre and former All Black George Bridge on the wing.
London Irish’s eighth-place end in final yr’s Premiership secured them the ultimate qualifying spot for the Champions Cup and a return to Europe’s high desk for the primary time since they completed backside of their pool within the 2011-12 competitors.
Victory over Newcastle ended a run of 5 successive Premiership defeats and lifted Declan Kidney’s aspect off the underside of the desk.
London Irish will play South Africa’s Stormers, who gained the United Rugby Championship final season, residence and away earlier than concluding their pool stage with a return fixture in opposition to Montpellier in January.
Montpellier are fifth within the Prime 14 this season and can hope to enhance on their quarter-final defeat by eventual champions La Rochelle on this competitors final season.
What they are saying
London Irish lock Rob Simmons: “We perceive that it is enormous for the membership. To have been out of that and now be seated on the high desk of the highest groups is an actual problem.
“As rugby gamers, we take pleasure in difficult ourselves and we get to problem ourselves in opposition to some high, high groups.”
Montpellier centre Arthur Vincent: “We arrive with loads of humility. We’re nonetheless small on this competitors. The Champions Cup goes quicker, hits tougher.
“As quickly as a match is misplaced, qualification turns into sophisticated. It is a very excessive stage in all areas, near a world Check.”
Line-ups
London Irish: Loader; Cinti, Joseph, Van Rensburg, Hassell-Collins; Jackson, White; Gigena, Creevy, Chawatama, Simmons, Coleman, Rogerson, Gonzalez, Fa’aso’o
Replacements: Willemse, Fischetti, Hoskins, Munga Cunningham-South, Powell, Jennings, Morisi.
Montpellier: Bouthier; Lam, Darmon, Garbisi, Bridge; Carbonel, Reinach; Forletta, Paenga-Amosa, Haouas, Chalureau, Verhaeghe, Camara, Becognee, Mercer
Replacements: Langdon, Tu’inukuafe, Lamositele, Doumenc, Coly, Tisseron, Dakuwaqa, Tauleigne
