The French champion will send a reshuffled and rejuvenated group to challenge Stade Rochelais on Saturday, with the executives leaving for South Africa in the Champions Cup.
The leader of the Top 14 should launch some of his hopes in the Maritimes on Saturday evening (9:05 p.m.) during the 14th day, while the squad will fly the next day to South Africa, with a view to the match against the Durban Sharks the following Saturday.
“We are used to rotating the squad against teams said to be better than us on paper and each time, we see that our young players respond”estimated Jean Bouilhou, the Toulouse forward coach.
“There was a lot of mutual help between the older players on the team and the younger ones, a lot of support, and the young people were very attentive”
Jean Bouilhou
“There was a lot of mutual assistance between the oldest players on the team and the youngest, a lot of support, and the young people were very attentiveunderlined Jean Bouilhou. We sent them a personal message, for some who are going to start a Top 14 match, who are going to play one of their first matches.
The majority of executives should therefore be left to rest on Saturday. International star Antoine Dupont, who had the flu last week and who had to give up the reception at Stade Français (38-23) during the holidays, could be part of this contingent of gentle players.
Japanese scrum half Naoto Saito, who was ill on Thursday, was unable to train and is also not expected to make the trip to La Rochelle, where he was claiming a place in the starting XV. Prop David Ainu'u, affected in the shoulder, and second row Richie Arnold, feeling discomfort in a calf, are also doubtful.
For the Toulouse staff, this first match of 2025 is a way to practice “players born in the 2000s must go and compete in La Rochelle, it’s part of a pilgrimage”according to Jean Bouilhou.
