Team news: Bordeaux-Begles vs Bristol Bears
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Fijian international Kalaveti Ravouvou will make his first Bears start when they make the trip to Stade Chaban-Delmas in round two of the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday (3.15pm KO GMT, live on TNT Sports).
The Fijian, who saw his citing complaint dismissed on Wednesday, is named on the wing for the trip to Bordeaux, with Sam Worsley and Joe Owen both making their debuts in the competition.
Fly-half Worsley starts in the number ten shirt against the French Top 14 side, while Owen is named in the back row alongside captain Jake Heenan and Magnus Bradbury.
Sam Wolstenholme starts at scrum half with James Williams partnering experienced centurion Piers O’Conor in midfield, while in the back three, Rich Lane shifts to full back with Ravouvou and the returning Noah Heward on the wings.
In the pack, Max Lahiff switches to loosehead with George Kloska at tighthead and Gabriel Oghre named at hooker. Ed Holmes joins Josh Caulfield in the engine room, while on the bench, Steven Longwell could make his debut for the club.
Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “We’ve had some great battles with Bordeaux down the years and we’re looking forward to another one on Saturday.
“This weekend will be our 17th game on the trot, with six more to go until we get a break and a short, six-day turnaround into back-to-back away games at Newcastle next Friday. Factoring in the travel to both France and the North East, the focus for us is how we manage the squad during this period to ensure they are all fresh and ready to perform.
“Our goal is to reach the knockout stages of this competition, so this game is important off the back of a great start last week and we look forward to the tough challenge ahead in Bordeaux.”
Bristol Bears team to face Bordeaux-Begles at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday (3.15pm KO):
15. Rich Lane (27 apps), 14. Noah Heward (10 apps), 13. Piers O’Conor (128 apps), 12. James Williams (28 apps), 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou (3 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (5 apps), 9. Sam Wolstenholme (3 apps); 1. Max Lahiff (74 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (5 apps), 3. George Kloska (38 apps), 4. Ed Holmes (100 apps), 5. Josh Caulfield (13 apps), 6. Joe Owen (5 apps), 7. Jake Heenan (c) (101 apps), 8. Magnus Bradbury (31 apps).
System players: 16. Will Capon (80 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (3 apps), 18. Steven Longwell (debut), 19. James Dun (24 apps), 20. Paddy Pearce (4 apps), 21. Oscar Lennon (8 apps), 22. Joe Jenkins (10 apps), 22. Jack Bates (35 apps).
Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas, Jay Tyack, Chris Vui, Santiago Grondona, Kieran Marmion, AJ MacGinty, Siva Naulago.
