Toulouse without Delibes but with Mallia against Leinster in the European Cup
In Toulouse, spring feels like summer, but no vacation yet. Four days before an explosive European Cup semi-final against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Stade Toulousain therefore resumed training on Tuesday on the lawn of the Ernest-Wallon stadium by surpassing 30 °C. Still marked by the intense hundred minutes disputed in the quarter-finals against Munster this past weekend, the Rouge et Noir did not push too hard. They practiced their scales and worked on a few combinations in slow motion before picking up the pace slightly as the session progressed.
Finally, scrum-half Antoine Dupont and Martin Page-Relo finished training by hitting several candles to subject the other three-quarters, including Thomas Ramos, Romain Ntamack, Matthis Lebel and Juan Cruz Mallia, to an intensive session of high ball receptions. A bombardment in order which undoubtedly gives a glimpse of what awaits Toulouse, Saturday, against the pragmatic Irish.
Médard and Germain did not take part in training
Out through injury against Munster, winger Dimitri Delibes, full-back Maxime Médard and substitute scrum-half Baptiste Germain did not take part in the session. Only the latter appeared at the edge of the field in the course of training, slightly limping. None of the three should be able to play the semi-final. But their absence will be compensated by the return of several three-quarters. Suspended after his red card received against Ulster, in the round of 16 first leg of this continental event, the Argentinian Mallia is operational again and should therefore replace Delibes on a wing, position for position.
Maxime Médard, he will probably be replaced on the bench by the Australian Zack Holmes, who has the advantage of being able to assess the opening, in the center, even at the back, or by the winger Arthur Bonneval, who can also cover the position of 15. Germain’s package will be overcome on the bench by Page-Relo. On the other hand, Toulouse will always be deprived of Sofiane Guitoune, Lucas Tauzin, Santiago Chocobares, Alban Placines, Yannick Youyoutte or Tim Nanai-Williams, while a doubt still remains as to the participation of the right pillar Charlie Faumuina and the second-line Richie Arnold . The Toulouse will again be left to rest this Wednesday. They will return to train on Thursday morning before flying to Dublin in the afternoon. They will therefore arrive in the Irish capital a day earlier than before their quarter-final.