Team news: NEC Harlequins have made three changes to the team that started against Castres Olympique for the Heineken European Cup match against Munster at Twickenham tomorrow. It had been widely reported the English club had rested about six players for the trip to France and it was further suggested they had targeted the Munster game as a result.
The team announced at the Stoop yesterday would appear to contradict those notions especially following a glance at the list of players out through injury.
Former Springbok and current Harlequins captain Andre Vos (ankle), George Harder (broken finger) and England and Lions centre Will Greenwood (shoulder) join Mike Worsley (back), Tani Fuga (knee), Maurice Fitzgerald (back), Jim Evans (shoulder) and Adrian Jarvis (illness) in the treatment room. Simon Maling and Geo Cronje are not registered for the European Cup.
Ugo Moyne has recovered from a hand injury and starts on the left wing. He will start his first competitive fixture for the team since the English Premiership fixture against Gloucester on October 9th.
To accommodate his return former Leinster and Ireland underage international Simon Keogh moves over to the right wing in place of Harder, who dislocated a finger in training.
In the pack, there are two changes in the back row. Nick Easter and Tony Diprose take over from Maama Molitika and Kai Horstmann on the blindside flank and number eight respectively. Luke Sherriff continues on the openside flank and Diprose captains the side.
There are four Irish players on the team, Gavin Duffy at full back, Mel Deane in the centre, Keogh on the right wing and Andy Dunne at outhalf. Dunne has been selected instead of former Munster outhalf-cum-fullback Jeremy Staunton who is on the bench.
On the bench, James Hayter has recovered from a groin strain and is named ahead of Cameron Dott and there is also a spot in the replacements for Roy Winters who missed the game against Castres last weekend.
Due to the clamour for tickets for this match the middle tier of the South Stand at Twickenham will be opened, which will mean a further 2,700 seats will be available.
Those seeking tickets should note they can only be purchased at the stadium tomorrow. The ticket office is located next to Gate A at the south end of the stadium and will be open from 11 a.m.
Quins are expecting a crowd of about 30,000 which would be a tournament record for a European Cup pool fixture.
Munster will announce their team at lunchtime today and report no late injury concerns.
Meanwhile, Grenoble have made six changes from the side that lost 26-21 for tomorrow's European Challenge Cup quarter-final second leg against Connacht at the Sportsground.
Prop Sebastien Rondinelli, second row Alifeleti Fakaongo, flanker Gwendal Ollivier, scrumhalf Antoine Nicoud, centre Denis Lison and right wing Pierre Alain Negre Gauthier are introduced into the team.
Coach Dean Richards was in reasonably bullish form, claiming his team could overturn the five-point deficit.
"We have come here to win. I think it's possible because they (Connacht) are not unbeatable at home. They have lost three of their last four matches there. If we can play for 60 minutes like we did for the first 20 at Stade Lesdiguieres, we would be able to win. There are a lot of positive things that came out of the first 40 minutes.
"Although it is always harder for a French team to win away, I believe the game is still there for the taking. We're taking the competition very seriously and the opportunity for a place in next year's Heineken Cup is one we want to pursue."
Connacht coach Michael Bradley will confirm his starting line-up after the captain's run today.
HARLEQUINS (v Munster): G Duffy; S Keogh, D James, M Deane, U Monye; A Dunne, S So'oialo; C Jones, A Tiatia, J Dawson; K Rudzki, S Miall; N Easter, T Diprose (capt), L Sherriff. Replacements: J Hayter, T Muggridge, R Winters, M Molitika, A Reay, J Staunton, T Williams.
GRENOBLE (v Connacht): N Carmona ; PA Negre Gauthier, D Lison, S Hufanga, J V Betrand; D Aucagne, A Nicoud; S Rondinelli, JF Martin Culet, R Martinez; A Fakaongo, K Ghezal; G Ollivier, J Cudmore (capt), J Puricelli. Replacements: S Petit, R David, F Faure, P Laurent, Y Authier, M Suarez, R Lubbe.
