O'Shea ready for French examination

Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea is relishing his side's European Champions Cup opener against a "frightening" Castres side tomorrow night.

The 20-team Champions Cup is the replacement for the Heineken Cup and as European rugby enters its 20th season, Harlequins have the honour of hosting its first fixture.

Castres, French champions in 2013 and runners-up last season, visit Twickenham Stoop for the first match in Pool 2.

While Harlequins currently sit in seventh place in the Aviva Premiership, Castres are already 16 points adrift of Top 14 leaders Clermont Auvergne and third from bottom.

However, O'Shea knows that despite a poor start to the season, the French outfit will pose a huge threat to his team tomorrow.

"It's pretty frightening. They might have had an inconsistent start to the season, but they are a brilliant side," he said.

"They are Top 14 champions and finalists over the past two years, so what a massive game to start it off. It's going to be ferocious.

"The game will be decided by the little things that happen within the match. If they go our way, we will win and everyone will say we're great, and if they don't, we will lose and everyone will say we're terrible and Castres are great.

"That's how tight this is. Top-level sport is about margins, and if you work hard enough the margins go your way.

"We haven't been consistent at the start of the season, but we will hit form and, when we do, we can match anybody.

"We always like playing the French sides because they play rugby, they try and attack.

"People have this turgid view of the Top 14, but they don't (play like that), especially Castres. We've played them a few times in pre-season over the years and we know the threats they have. This will be a great challenge for us."

O'Shea has made three changes from the side lost to Leicester last week. Centre George Lowe replaces George Casson, scrum-half Danny Care is back and hooker Dave Ward comes in for Joe Gray.

Castres' outstanding half-back combination of Remi Tales and Rory Kockott will ensure Harlequins need to be at their best while Scotland internationals Max Evans and Richie Gray are also named in the French side's starting line-up.

"There will be a lot attention on the game and it's going to be exciting for everyone at the club," O'Shea added.

"It's a great tournament. Now that it is here and back again, everyone's delighted.

"It is a massive emotional rollercoaster and you have to be very level the whole way through, but it doesn't get much tougher to start with."