Toulouse with a “reshuffled” team, Willis captain
Kinghorn – Bituniata, Delibes, Barassi, Lebel – Mallia, Graou – Willis (cap.), Jelonch, Banos – Vergé, Brennan – Merkler, Cramont, Neti.
Substitutes: Lacombre, Reilhes, Elias, Castro Ferreira, T. Ntamack, Ahki, Capuozzo, Aldegheri.
On the substitutes' bench were young hooker Thomas Lacombre and Argentine second-row Efrain Elias, who will be celebrating their first professional match. Italian international Ange Capuozzo will double as scrum half.
A big absence while Meafou and Flament are in Marcoussis
Cyril Baille and Nepo Laulala, absent for a long time, remain in the infirmary, but they are joined by Richie Arnold. Hit in a shoulder last weekend, the Australian second row from Stade Toulousain will be absent for at least three weeks, the management of his club, leader of the Top 14, announced this Friday.
This injury comes at a bad time for the reigning French and European champions, already deprived in the second row of Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou, selected for the French team for the November tests. Good news all the same for the Haut-Garonnais, who will be able to count on the young Joshua Brennan (22 years old), called for the first time to Marcoussis, but released by the Blues staff. He therefore applies for the match in Bayonne, at the end of the 9th day of Top 14.
Another return, that of the promising third row Mathis Castro-Ferreira (20 years old). A real revelation the previous season, with nine tries scored in 15 Top 14 matches, the U20 world champion in 2023, could experience his first minutes of the season this weekend. Ugo Mola and his staff will also be able to rely on their Japanese scrum-half Naoto Saito and the winger and Olympic rugby sevens champion Nelson Sword.
Note, however, the loss of Julien Marchand, who suffers from minor discomfort in his calf. The international hooker is still “protected” by his club before potentially joining the French XV for its first match of the fall against Japan (November 9).
The compo of the Rowing with the pair of overvitaminated centers Maqala-Tuilagi, the former hinge of the team of France Lopez-Machenaud or even the captain Iturria !!
Orabé – Spring, Maqala, Tuilagi, Mousques – Lopez (cap.), Machenaud – Chouzenoux, Habel-Küffner, Bruni – Moon, Iturria (cap.) – Tagi, Bosch, Cormenier.
Substitutes: Martin, Bordelai, Paulos, Héguy, Germain, Seconds, Martocq, Cotet.
BAYONNE-TOULOUSE, KICK-OFF AT 9:05 P.M.!
Hello everyone and welcome to RMC Sport! Festive evening at Jean-Dauger for Aviron Bayonnais which hosts the reigning French champion and leader before the 9th day, Stade Toulousain. Kick-off at 9:05 p.m.!
