Injuries, returns or even suspensions, we take stock of the numbers of the different clubs at the dawn of the fifth day of the Top 14.
Vannes – Racing 92
Valves : Still in the recovery phase, Argentine third row Juan Bautista Pedemonte (big crutch) is one of the three players still at a standstill with three-quarter centers Sacha Valleau (back) and Théo Costossèque (knee). Good news for the Bretons with the return to training of prop Hugo Djehi (calf) and winger Enzo Benmegal (ankle). Centers Tani Vili and Francis Saili as well as guard Gwenaël Duplenne (concussions) trained normally.
Racing 92 : Thomas Laclayat, absent from the last match against La Rochelle due to an injury sustained during the warm-up, is back in the Ile-de-France starting XV. Vinaya Habosi will also be established. In the absence of Romain Taofifenua and Will Rowlands, respectively concussed and injured in one foot (the Welshman will be absent for several weeks), it is Boris Palu who will occupy the precious position of number 5. The Argentinian Lucio Sordoni, who comes to finish the Rugby Championship with Argentina, will start on the sidelines.
French Stadium – Montpellier
French stadium : the pillars Paul Alo-Emile, Giorgi Melikidze and Sergo Abramishvili are still absent and will be for several more weeks. Just like the third row Mathieu Hirigoyen, operated after the first match of the season in Bordeaux for a fibula injury. Tanginoa Halaifonua is also absent due to an adductor injury sustained during the match against Toulon. He could make his return against Lyon or Castres.
Montpellier : at the time of writing, uncertainty still hovers over the participation of Paul Willemse, who was preserved at the start of the week. If he were to miss, Chalureau would switch to the right and Janse Van Rensburg would go into the cage, in which case Alexandre Bécognée will start. Van Rensburg will be on the field anyway. Performing last week, Alexis Bernadet continues. Martins and Moustin could make their first match in their new colors. For the rest, Yacouba Camara was rested, Lenni Nouchi, Tyler Duguid, Stuart Hogg Auguste Cadot and Thomas Darmon are out. Jan Serfontein will resume in November.
La Rochelle – Lyon
La Rochelle stadium : Stade Rochelais will not be able to count on the presence of third line center Grégory Alldritt, spared after having played the entire start of the season; on the other hand, scrum half Tawera Kerr-Barlow will, in all likelihood, make his return to competition, having not played since the first day. Levani Botia and Teddy Thomas are getting closer to a return to competition. Winger Raymond Rhule and prop Thierry Paiva are still in the infirmary, now alongside hooker Pierre Bourgarit.
Lyon : Lou recorded several returns from injury this week, starting with that of centers Théo Millet (contusion) and Alfred Parisien (ischios) and prop Cedate Gomes Sa (concussion). And even a simple return, namely that of the Argentine second row Tomas Lavanini, mobilized during the Rugby Championship. On the other hand, for this trip, the Lyonnais will have to do without their full-back Alexandre Tchaptchet, victim of a slight acromio-clavicular sprain against Castres.
Bordeaux-Bègles – Bayonne
Bordeaux-Bègles : returning from the Rugby Championship played with Argentina, second row Guido Petti Pagadizábal could start the match on Saturday. Other good news for the Gironde staff: the return of Connor Sa who trained all week with the group and who will now be able to quickly return to competition. Finally, Nans Ducuing (hamstrings) and Paul Abadie (calf) are expected with the group next week. Adam Coleman and Joey Carbery are still recovering.
Bayonne : Denis Marchois, injured in a shoulder against Montpellier, will be spared. Nadir Megdoud, injured in a wrist, is unavailable for three weeks. Manu Tuilagi (fracture in one hand) has returned to rugby training. Reece Hodge is not yet completely healed from a bruise on his knee that has not healed. Rémi Bourdeau, recovered from his operation on a patellar tendon in the offseason, is not yet completely ready. Quentin Béthune should undergo cervical surgery. Returns of Pieter Scholtz, Federico Mori and Lucas Paulos.
Perpignan – Pau
Perpignan : the sentence fell for Posolo Tuilagi, victim of a fracture of the left tibia against Clermont and operated on immediately. His unavailability is estimated between four and five months. He is not the only one concerned since Jacobus Van Tonder, also released prematurely, suffers from a ruptured ligament in one knee, and Jake McIntyre, injured in a shoulder, will not be fit for several months. Alan Brazo was hit in a finger but will be available to the group. Alistair Crossdale and Bruce Devaux remain recovering, while Ignacio Ruiz and Joaquín Oviedo are back from selections.
Pau : Lucas Rey had surgery on his shoulder injury on Thursday. He joins the long-term injured in the infirmary: Thomas Carol (cruciate ligaments, operated on in July), Reece Hewat (sprained knee), Lekso Kaulashvili (sprained ankle), Clément Mondinat (operated on a meniscus), Hugo Parrou (operated on a dislocated shoulder), Luke Whitelock (Achilles tendon, operated on in July) and Siate Tokolahi (same injury). On the other hand, Mickaël Capelli and Rémi Sénéca are in the recovery phase (after a ligament rupture), Thibaut Hamonou is under concussion protocol. Paulo Pelesasa still suffers from his elbow (sprain) and his forearm (fracture).
Castres – Toulouse stadium
Castres : three-quarter center Adrea Cocagi is still suspended after the red card he received with his selection and will not be able to return before the trip to Pau next week. The opening half Pierre Popelin, affected in the adductors, should be spared. Fly-half Julien Dumora (broken hand), second row Tom Staniforth (ankle surgery) and third row Romain Macurdy (shoulder) are still in treatment.
Toulouse stadium : hit in a thigh, Jack Willis is out. Like Mathis Castro-Ferreira (sinus fracture), Alban Placines (knee), Cyril Baille (ankle), Nepo Laulala (Achilles tendon), as well as the young Kalvin Gourgues and Valentin Delpy. On the other hand, Setareki Bituniyata, who was injured in his hamstrings, is back. The Argentines Juan Cruz Mallia and Santiago Chocobares returned to France but are unavailable, especially since the second named is injured in a knee. Romain Ntamack and Ange Capuozzo are on leave. Antoine Dupont will soon resume.
Clermont – Toulon
Clermont : the Clermontois staff brought back two injured people from the trip to Perpignan. Quarterback center George Moala suffers from a concussion and will be out this weekend. Hooker Étienne Fourcade (fractured cheekbone) is also unavailable. Flanker Anthime Hémery (shoulder) and third line center Pita Gus Sowakula (knee) were also affected and are highly doubtful. The long-term injured, second row Rob Simmons (biceps), scrum half Enzo Sanga (ankle) and third row Lucas Dessaigne (cruciate ligament rupture), continue their rehabilitation.
Toulon : pillar Beka Gigashvili (thigh, absent for three months), second row David Ribbans (physical alert) and Swan Rebbadj (foot) are out for the trip to Clermont. Flyhalf Dan Biggar and third row Yannick Youyoutte were not at midweek training. Second row Matthias Halagahu (foot) and center Mathieu Smaïli (shoulder) are now fully recovered. Fullback Melvyn Jaminet is suspended until January.
