Tameifuna shifts outside of front-row as Bordeaux forced into bizarre calls

Back-to-back Investec Champions Cup winners Bordeaux-Bègles have been forced into an unconventional selection for the start of their title defence against Gloucester, with 148kg prop Ben Tameifuna named in the second-row at Kingsholm.

The 1.82m tighthead will make his first Bordeaux appearance of the season in the No.5 jersey alongside Cameron Woki on Friday night, while the visitors have also been forced into an unusual half-back combination in the absence of Matthieu Jalibert.

France scrum-half Maxime Lucu shifts to fly-half, with Martin Page-Relo wearing the No.9 jersey, as Yannick Bru reshuffles his side from last weekend’s Top 14 meeting with Clermont.

Bordeaux have also opted for a six-two split on the bench, with Connor Sa, Matis Perchaud, Lasha Pkhakadze, Adam Zapedowski, Pierre Bochaton and Elyjah Ibsaiene providing the forward cover. Xan Mousques and Romain Buros are the only backs among the replacements, leaving no specialist half-back on the bench.

It presents another sizeable challenge for a Gloucester side that have started their Gallagher PREM campaign strongly and pushed Leicester Tigers close at Welford Road last weekend.

George Skivington has named Jean Kleyn and Arthur Clark in the second-row tasked with confronting the unusual Woki-Tameifuna combination, while new signings Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan start in the pack.

Gloucester XV: 15 George Barton; 14 Will Joseph, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ben Loader; 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Dan Robson; 1 Dian Bleuler, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 3 Ciaran Knight, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Arthur Clark, 6 Deian Gwynne, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Jack Clement.
Replacements: 16 Seb Blake, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Eliot Salt, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Will Trenholm, 21 Lewis Ludlow, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Will Knight.

Bordeaux-Begles XV: 15 Salesi Rayasi; 14 Pablo Uberti, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 10 Maxime Lucu (c), 9 Martin Page-Relo; 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Sipili Falatea, 4 Cameron Woki, 5 Ben Tameifuna, 6 Marko Gazzotti, 7 Temo Matiu, 8 Tom Willis.
Replacements: 16 Connor Sa, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Lasha Pkhakadze, 19 Adam Zapedowski, 20 Pierre Bochaton, 21 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 22 Xan Mousques, 23 Romain Buros.