With the end of the autumn tour, many internationals will be back on the Top 14 pitches this weekend. Other players are returning from injuries. Discover the update on the Top 14 squads before the 11th day.
Racing 92
Romain Taofifenua, victim of a concussion against the All Blacks a fortnight ago, will be absent for another week. Ibrahim Diallo, injured in his right shoulder against Stade Français, is also unavailable. The same goes for Henry Chavancy, who was withdrawn after also being hit in the shoulder in the Paris region derby. The long-term injured, Owen Farrell, Demba Bamba and Hassane Kolingar, are continuing their rehabilitation.
Joshua Brennan (floor of the orbit) and Paul Costes (ankle), packages against Perpignan, are back. On the other hand, Pita Ahki, victim of a small tear in his hamstrings against Usap, is out. Like Richie Arnold (shoulder) and Joel Merkler (back) for whom it will be too tight. Cyril Baille (ankle) should resume soon. Alban Placines (knee), Nepo Laulala (Achilles tendon) and Kalvin Gourgues are still absent. Naoto Saito was placed on vacation, like Peato Mauvaka, Alexandre Roumat, Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou. If it was spared at the start of the week, the choice was not made for Antoine Dupont, who could be in the group in Créteil.
Clermont
The bad news of the weekend concerns Thibaud Lanen who should be out against Castres due to a dislocated finger on his left hand. Bautista Delguy (hamstring) is also very doubtful while Killian Tixeront returned from a mandatory week of vacation this Wednesday. The young flanker should be a little tight to be lined up this Saturday. Folau Fainga'a (foot) and Rob Simmons (biceps) are still too tight for a return, unlike Alivereti Raka (knee) and Irae Simone (knee) who trained again. Long-term injured Kylan Hamdaoui (pectoral injury), Enzo Sanga (ankle), Lucas Dessaigne (cruciate ligament rupture) continue their rehabilitation.
Castres
Olympic Castres paid a heavy price for its victory against La Rochelle. Baptiste Delaporte (elbow hyperextension) will be absent for several months. Baptiste Cope (shoulder dislocation) will have to miss the field for several weeks. Julien Dumora, injured in his ribs, is spared for this trip to Clermont. Louis Le Brun, concussed, should be able to return after the European break. Second row Leone Nakarawa is resting.
Pau
Second row Rémi Picquette and fullback Jack Maddocks are concussed. They are added to the long series of injured people from Pau, including of course winger or fullback Théo Attissogbe, victim of a knee sprain. The French center Emilien Gailleton and the Argentinian pillar Ignacio Calles are back from the selection. On the other hand, the Fijians Tumua Manu and Lekima Tagitagivalu will be operational.
Lyon
Victim of a sprained ankle against Clermont, second row Félix Lambey will miss the next two months. Number 8 Arno Botha (ribs) hopes to return in the next fortnight, while hooker Guillaume Marchand (neck sprain) and center Théo Millet (external malleolus fracture) are aiming to return to Stade Toulouse on December 22. Released during the match last Saturday, second row Tomas Lavanini will apply for Pau, unlike right pillar Jermaine Ainsley. Finally, the Semi Radradra center comes out of suspension.
La Rochelle
Flanker Levani Botia (forearm) is getting closer to a return to competition, six months after his operation. Australian winger Suliasi Vunivalu, Raymond Rhule's medical joker (Achilles tendon), who has not played for a long time, could experience his first minutes. Third row Judicaël Cancoriet is still suspended. On the international side, Paul Boudehent, Georges-Henri Colombe, Grégory Alldritt and Joel Sclavi should be rested. Hooker Pierre Bourgarit (shin) continues his convalescence.
Valves
Winger Romaric Camou (abdominal muscle tear) is back and starts. Second row Anton Bresler (knee) is also back and will take his place on the bench. The second or third row Joe Edwards is staying in New Zealand for a few weeks, as agreed, and should not be affected by the European matches. Sacha Valleau (back) is still absent.
Bordeaux-Bègles
The third row Temo Matiu, victim of a shock in Vannes, was stopped for three weeks by the neurologist due to a concussion. Neo-international fullback Romain Buros is still absent due to an injury more serious than a simple crutch. Three-quarter center Yoram Moefana is on vacation. Still behind, Damian Penaud is still absent due to a lung infection. With the flu at the start of the week, Scottish second row Jonny Gray is uncertain, as is Matthieu Jalibert (thigh).
Slightly injured in the neck, pillar Mohamed Haouas is left to rest as is Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg. As a result, Florian Verhaeghe should start the match alongside Bastien Chalureau who will play his hundredth match with the MHR in Chaban-Delmas. Domingo Miotti is still treating his knee and Stuart Hogg his hand. Yacouba Camara should return to the third wing position. Madosh Tambwe's participation is uncertain.
Perpignan
Alan Brazo was seriously injured against Toulouse during the last trip. A cruciate ligament rupture was detected and the third row's season is almost certainly over. Beyond the bad news, the Usapistes do not really record any returns except that of Patrick Sobela and Mathieu Tanguy, finally recovered from their respective problems. Jacobus Van Tonder (knee), Posolo Tuilagi (ankle), Jake McIntyre (shoulder), Lucas Dubois (fibula) and Marvin Orie (herniated disc) will still be missing from the Catalans.
Toulon found its internationals, but some had a few ailments like Ben White and Jiuta Wainiqolo. The Scotsman and the Fijian did not take part in the midweek collective session. The French international pillar Jean-Baptiste Gros (thigh) will, at a minimum, be absent for the next four weeks. Georgian prop Beka Gigashvili (thigh) continues his recovery, as does all-black Leicester center Fainga'anuku (ribs). Swan Rebbadj is still on his side (foot). Fullback Melvyn Jaminet is suspended until next January.
Guillaume Martocq and Arnaud Erbinartegaray, both concussed in Toulon, will be spared. Alexander Moon (muscle trauma) cannot hold his place. Federico Mori (adductors) is in treatment. Tevita Tatafu, injured in the ankle ligament, is out for two months. Vincent Giudicelli and Arthur Iturria, both injured in the shoulder, are absent for three months. Pierre Castillon (ankle fracture) is unavailable for three months. Xan Mousques (wrist) is away from the field for two months. Reece Hodge, Gaëtan Germain and Rémi Bourdeau are in the recovery phase. Quentin Béthune is in trouble with his neck.
French stadium
Jeremy Ward, who suffered a concussion during the match against Racing 92, will be absent. Other players are unsure. Romain Briatte did not train at the start of the week due to a crutch. Baptiste Pesenti (blow on an ankle) and Tanginoa Halaifonua (knee crutch) were also preserved. Julien Delbouis and Lester Etien passed the concussion protocol without incident. Mathieu Hirigoyen and Giorgi Melikidze are still absent.
