Having had a good start to the season with two wins over Racing (31-28) and Perpignan (27-12), and a defensive bonus brought back from their trip to Toulon (28-30), Castres Olympique will not be in the best shape to face Lyon on Saturday. Indeed, Jeremy Davidson, the coach, will be without many important players.
Tyler Ardron, the Canadian third-row, is out. He has a knee injury and will undergo meniscus surgery. He joins Julien Dumora and Levan Chilvacha in the infirmary. He has undergone meniscus surgery and will miss six weeks. Mathieu Babillot, the captain, will be rested, as will Guillaume Ducat, the second-row, Jack Goodhue, the New Zealand center, and Will Collier, the English prop, four players who have been used a lot since the start of the season.
Baptiste Cope (shoulder) and Pierre Popelin will be preserved. Note that Adrea Cocagi, sent off with his Fijian selection against Tonga, during a Pacific Nation Cup match, is still suspended. He received a 4-week suspension. He will be back for the 6th day of the Top 14…
