Merchant absent longer than expected
Aurélien CANOT, Media365, published on Friday, November 26, 2021 at 3:28 p.m.
Package against New Zealand with the XV of France last Saturday after injuring the ribs, Julien Marchand will not find the land this weekend with Toulouse when Brive comes. The international hooker is suffering from a cartilage fracture and is expected to be out for three weeks.
The absence of Julien Marchand could have cost the Blues dearly against New Zealand. Fortunately for Fabien Galthié and the XV of France, it was not, Peato Mauvaka, revelation of the tricolor autumn tour, was indeed able to forget the usual holder in the heel to become one of the heroes of last Saturday’s feat against the All Blacks at the Stade de France. Unfortunately for Toulouse, this time, Marchand will not only miss this shock against the New Zealanders. The 26-year-old international hooker club with sixteen selections indeed let it be known this Friday on the eve for the French champions to receive Brive on the 11th day of the Top 14 for the resumption of the championship that Marchand would be away longer than expected. Touched in the ribs, winner of the U20 World Cup with Les Bleuets in 2018 is actually suffering from a fractured cartilage that should recede from lawns for at least three weeks.
Merchant back against the Wasps?
“He will be absent for several weeks and should miss the trip to Cardiff in the European Cup”, even indicates the Toulouse Stadium this Friday while the Red and Black infirmary continues to grow (Marchand joined on the list of unavailable players Rory Arnold, Alban Placines, Rynhardt Elstadt, Richie Arnold, Alexi Balès, Pierre Fouyssac and Santiago Chocobares). Marchand, injured against Georgia in the second game during this autumn tour which began with a victory against Argentina (the Blues have lined up two more, against the Georgians and the All Blacks), will miss the Brive venue this weekend but also the trip the following Saturday (12th day of Top 14) on the Bordeaux-Bègles field. According to Toulouse, the hooker regularly established by Galthié since the beginning of the era of Gersois should therefore also be deprived of the debut of the tenants of the Champions Cup title, on December 11 on the lawn of Cardiff. The big absentee from last Saturday could therefore resume competition on December 19, for the Wasps room in the Pink City.