Champions Cup: Harlequins and Castres ring the changes for Friday’s clash

Harlequins’ have rung the changes this week as the club looks to finish the pool stages of the Champions Cup on a high at a sold-out Stoop.

There are nine alterations to the starting XV that claimed a dramatic late victory at the Cardiff Arms Park last Friday night, with a further five changes amongst the replacements

Hooker Jack Musk, prop Simon Kerrod and second-row Hugh Tizard step into the tight five up front, while openside flanker Luke Wallace starts in the seven jersey among the back-row.

Four internationals are restored to the starting line-up in the backline, with Scottish duo Scott Steele and Huw Jones joined by Italian Tommy Allan and Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen.

Outside back Nick David makes his Champions Cup debut, taking over from Tyrone Green at full-back at The Stoop this weekend.

Prop Mak Wilson, lock George Hammond and scrum-half Lewis Gjaltema step into the matchday squad among the substitutes alongside last week’s starters and recent England call-ups Marcus Smith and Joe Marchant.

Senior coach Tabai Matson said: “I think after Friday’s result in Cardiff it’s given us an opportunity to look forward a week, because we’re definitely in contention for the playoffs now, which was our goal at the start of the year. So that’s been a real positive.

“But also, having spoken to some of our senior players over the weekend, they want to finish top in Europe. So, we roll into this Friday night against Castres with an opportunity to play well again with a different group. It’s a great opportunity for guys who have been working furiously for months now to play at The Stoop in front of a sold-out home crowd and cement our European aspirations, which is a pretty exciting opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Castres have made six alterations for Friday’s game in the English capital.

There are only two changes in the backline, with Adrea Cocagi coming in for Thomas Combezou and Rory Kockott starting ahead of Santiago Arata, but they have freshened up the pack.

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France international Gaetan Barlot starts in the front-row with Florent Vanverberghe coming into the second-row for Loic Jacquet.

And in the back-row, Kevin Kornath and Nick Champion de Crespigny start ahead of Baptiste Delaporte and Simon Meka respectively.

The teams:

Harlequins: 15 Nick David, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Tommy Allan, 9 Scott Steele, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Viliami Taulani, 5 Hugh Tizard, 4 Dino Lamb, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Jack Musk, 1 Joe MarlerReplacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Mak Wilson, 19 George Hammond, 20 Archie White, 21 Lewis Gjaltema, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Joe Marchant

Castres: 15 Thomas Larregain, 14 Antoine Zeghdar, 13 Pierre Aguillon, 12 Adrea Cocagi, 11 Filipo Nakosi, 10 Ben Botica, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Kevin Kornath, 7 Mateaki Kafatolu, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Jack Whetton, 4 Florent Vanverberghe, 3 Antoine Guillamon, 2 Gaetan Barlot (c), 1 Antoine TichitReplacements: 16 Paula Ngauamo, 17 Julius Nostadt, 18 Matthew Tierney, 19 Théo Hannoyer, 20 Josaia Raisuqe, 21 Jérémy Fernandez, 22 Louis Le Brun, 23 Vilimoni Botitu

Date: Friday, January 21Venue: Twickenham StoopKick-off: 20:00 GMTReferee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)Assistant referees: Ian Kenny (Scotland), Dave Sutherland (Scotland)TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

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