the essential
Tomorrow evening, on the pitch of Pierre-Fabre (9:05 p.m.), Castrais and Toulouse will try to react after being beaten during the last day of Top 14. Especially since the “rouge et noir” no longer imposed themselves on their home team. neighbors since April 2019.
After rotating the squad in Lyon last week, Castres Olympique has obviously aligned all its available executives for the arrival of Stade Toulousain. The pillars Quentin Walcker and Will Collier will thus be back in the XV, still surrounding Gaëtan Barlot at the heel. On the second row, Florent Vanverberghe will make his fourth start in five days, and Guillaume Ducat, who will accompany him in the cage, will be called upon to counter the Stade alignment. Captain Mathieu Babillot is unsurprisingly part of the third row, alongside Baptiste Delaporte, and the powerful Abraham Papali’i in number 8.
Also read:
Castres-Stade Toulousain: Geoffrey Palis wants to “put things in order” before welcoming the reigning French champion
Among the three-quarters, Louis Le Brun will keep his place at the opening, and Santiago Arata will keep the jersey numbered 9, after his first start of the season in the Rhône last week. Rookies Rémy Baget and Christian Ambadiang will start on the wings, while the center pair will be formed by New Zealander Jack Goodhue and Adrien Séguret, two elements with defensive qualities that could be valuable against Toulouse. Geoffrey Palis will occupy the full-back position, as he has done very well since Julien Dumora’s injury.
Also read:
Castres-Stade Toulousain: “We are going to try new things…” Toulouse residents looking for the right balance before the derby against CO
Nine changes in Toulouse
On the Toulouse side, the staff rotation policy continues. While Romain Ntamack and Ange Capuozzo benefit from a week’s vacation, he has made nine changes in his starting XV compared to the one which started against Bordeaux-Bègles.
The most notable of these comes from the tenure of Anthony Jelonch. After two appearances, in Montpellier and against UBB, the Gersois will attack the match this time. A first in more than eight months and his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Bath. Théo Ntamack in N.8 and François Cros on the other wing complete the third line They will support a renewed front five with Rodrigue Neti, Peato Mauvaka and Joel Merkler on the front line, and the pair formed by Richie Arnold and Emmanuel Meafou on the ‘coupling.
Also read:
VIDEO. Castres-Stade Toulousain: “By going to our inbred friends from Castres…” Gillian Galan’s slip-up before the derby
Behind, while awaiting the return to competition of Antoine Dupont, within two weeks at most, Paul Graou will officiate in the scrum with Thomas Ramos, who slips to the opening for the second time this season after the trip to Montpellier with the added bonus of the role of captain, Blair Kinghorn moving from the wing to the position of last defense. Within the three-quarter line, Matthis Lebel, absent against UBB, finds a starting place on the left wing while Setareki Bituniyata makes his first appearance of the season on the right wing. Pierre-Louis Barassi and Dimitri Delibes will form the center pair.
Also read:
Castres-Stade Toulousain: “It’s the countryside against the city!” CO player Loïs Guérois found his source of motivation for the derby
Accustomed to the 6-2, the Haut-Garonnais staff this time opted for a 5-3 distribution, Thibaud Flament and Joshua Brennan covering both the second and third lines. Julien Marchand left to rest, it is Guillaume Cramont who will double as hooker, brought in in the second half like David Ainu’u and Dorian Aldegheri. Behind, Naoto Saito will be accompanied by Paul Costes and the Olympic Sevens champion Nelson Epée.
