Affected in Perpignan, Danty, Berjon and Sclavi will not be part of the reception at Stade Toulouse on Saturday (9:05 p.m.). But the Rochelais can notably count on the return of Kerr-Barlow at the hinge.
If Ronan O'Gara had shown concern last Saturday in the corridors of Aime-Giral, as soon as La Rochelle was beaten by Perpignan (21-13), fearing a “serious” injury for Joel Sclavi and “serious consequences” for Thomas Berjon, the latest news on the state of health of the pillar and the scrum-half are ultimately reassuring, with Romain Carmignani mentioning “small ailments” this Friday. Ditto for international center Jonathan Danty who had “locked his knee”.
Vunivalu hit in the thigh
Forfeits for the reception of Toulouse this Saturday, the three men are all affected in the knee – it is a sprain in the case of Thomas Berjon – but the forwards coach has ruled out the prospect of long unavailability. Ditto for Suliasi Vunivalu, released after a spike in the thigh.
“In this sport, it's always the same thing, when you don't commit, you hurt yourself. It's a good example”also commented Ronan O'Gara's deputy who can however count, in the absence of Berjon, on the return of Tawera Kerr-Barlow, whose shoulder pain following the match against Clermont (December 21) have faded. Many executives spared last weekend will also return against Toulouse, like Uini Atonio, Ulupano Seuteni and Dillyn Leyds.
