Stade Toulousain: the injury of François Cros, a “hard blow” for Toulouse
Forwards coach Jean Bouilhou spoke this Friday, September 16 on the long absence of the third line, recently revealed with a knee.
The injury to international third line François Cros, caused in the week of the left knee and absent for several months, is “a hard blow” for Toulouse, regretted Friday, September 16 Jean Bouilhou, the forwards coach of the leader of the Top 14.
“It’s unfortunate to lose him so quickly, for a long period more. He’s such an important player in our team”, provoked the former third line of the club, now in the Toulouse coaching staff.
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Stade Toulousain: François Cros injured for long weeks and package for the autumn tour with the XV of France
Already affected in the same knee at the end of last season, Cros was forced to leave the field less than three minutes after coming into play last Sunday at the end of the 3rd day of the Top 14 against Toulon, victim of a relapse. “We didn’t bring him back too early, he was in good shape to play,” defended Bouilhou, while acknowledging that he “may have missed something in his rehabilitation at some point”.
“It’s a setback for him, but fortunately it’s at the start of the season. It’s not as bad as if it were at the end,” he added. “We have young people and other players who are capable of taking over.” Stade Toulousain will notably be able to count on Saturday (9:05 p.m.) in Pau, on the occasion of the 3rd day of the championship, on its third line Rynhardt Elstadt.
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Stade Toulousain: Romain Ntamack and François Cros injured, how to replace them?
The South African has received the green light from the National Rugby League Joint Committee after being released by the Springboks, with whom he was retained so far to contest the Rugby Championship, the tournament bringing together the great nations of the southern hemisphere.
Excluded from Bordeaux at the start of the championship, Alban Placines has already served his week of suspension and will also be able to take his place in the third row, a position to which Thibaud Flament and Yannick Youyoutte should return in the following two weeks.
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Top 14 – Stade Toulousain: Romain Ntamack and François Cros come out on injury against Toulon
Toulouse will however be deprived in Béarn of its international opening half Romain Ntamack, injured in an ankle against Toulon. Unlike Cros and pillar Cyril Baille, he should be back on the pitch before the three French XV events in November against Australia, South Africa and Japan.