Faraj Benlahoucine, Media365, published on Thursday October 3, 2024 at 5:23 p.m.
Hit in the knee with the Pumas, Santiago Chocobares will not undergo surgery. Reassuring news for the Argentinian who should return to the Top 14 pitches with Stade Toulousain before the end of the calendar year.
This Saturday, more than 12,000 kilometers from Toulouse near Nelspruit in South Africa where he took part in Argentina’s last match in the Rugby Championship against the new winners of the competition, Santiago Chocobares feared the worst. In the 26th minute, he was hit head-on in the knee by Aphelele Fassi. Unable to resume the game, the Pumas number 12 nevertheless left the field under his own power, supported by members of the South American medical team.
This Thursday, five days after the events, the news is less bad than expected. The Haut-Garonnais staff revealed that the exams taken by the three-quarter multi-purpose team are “reassuring”, our colleagues from Rugby Rama. The serious and feared suspicion of rupture of the ligaments was ruled out, therefore he avoids the operation box and a return to competition for Santiago Chocobares is envisaged before the end of the calendar year. On the other hand, no deadline has been filtered as to the duration of his unavailability.
Willis and Baille injured, Ntamack on leave
The Stade Toulousain infirmary is relatively well stocked before its derby at the Pierre-Fabre stadium in Castres this Saturday as part of the 5th day of Top 14. In addition to Santiago Chocobares, the other Puma Juan Cruz Mallia will also be missing, too physically fit after having also taken part in the Rugby Championship in the southern hemisphere. Added to these packages are those of 3rd line Jack Willis (thigh), and prop Cyril Baille (ankle) while the internationals Ange Capuozzo and Romain Ntamack will take a breather, they both have time off.