European champions Bordeaux-Begles have named 25-stone tighthead prop Ben Tameifuna in the second row for their opening Champions Cup match away to Gloucester on Friday night.
The French outfit travel to Kingsholm to face the Cherry and Whites, who boast a large Welsh contingent in their team. Wales skipper Dewi Lake captains the Gallagher Premiership side, while Jac Morgan also starts as one of the club's vice-captains.
Welsh back-row opportunity
Morgan is joined in the back row by former Wales U20s captain Deian Gwynne, who is making his first Gloucester start just days before Steve Tandy names his autumn squad, giving him a late chance to impress the Wales head coach.
In the backline, Max Llewellyn starts in midfield, having come off the bench in last week's defeat to Leicester. There is a Welsh presence on the bench too, with Wales international Freddie Thomas covering the second row.
Tameifuna at lock
Thomas could easily come up against hulking Tongan prop Tameifuna, after the back-to-back champions named him at lock. The 35-year-old, who has previously been named the heaviest player in world rugby, partners France international Cameron Woki in the second row for Bordeaux as they begin their pursuit of a third consecutive Champions Cup title.
The French outfit are without fly-half Matthieu Jalibert through injury, with Maxime Lucu moving from scrum-half to the 10 jersey. In Bordeaux's back row, Marko Gazzotti returns to the side, lining up alongside Tom Willis and Temo Matiu.
Gwynne's big test
Exiled England No. 8 Willis has crossed the gainline more than any other back-rower in the opening rounds of the Top 14, meaning Morgan and Gwynne will have their hands full in the back row.
While Morgan is a certainty for Wales' autumn squad when it is named next week, Gwynne could force his way into Tandy's thinking with a big performance against Bordeaux on Friday night. The 20-year-old from Aberystwyth has already been brought into Tandy's alignment camps in the last year, showing that he is clearly on the national team's radar.
His performances for the U20s in the last couple of years certainly caught the eye, with Gwynne leading the side alongside co-captain Steffan Emanuel. And while Gwynne has made a handful of starts for Gloucester in his fledgling career, including a couple in the Champions Cup last year, this perhaps represents his biggest test to date. Competition for back-row places is fierce at the minute, but a strong outing could make Gwynne a bolter when it comes to a first senior call-up.
