The Toulouse staff had warned. The executives, and their appointed understudies, would be spared this Saturday in the league one week before the XXL Champions Cup final against Leinster. They are indeed all exempt from the trip to Montpellier, this Saturday at the opening of the 23rd day of the Top 14.
The hinge, new, will be composed of Baptiste Germain and the young Espoirs opener Valentin Delpy. Ange Capuozzo, who only returned to the field last week, however continues at the back, just like Pierre-Louis Barassi in the center, two players who need rhythm.
Up front, the turnover is massive with many young players supervised by the more experienced, and promoted captain, second row Fa’asalele.
Toulouse’s starting XV: 15. Capuozzo; 14. Retière, 13. Delibes, 12. Barassi, 11. Bituniyata; 10. Delpy, 9. Germain; 7. Brennan, 8. T. Ntamack, 6. Castro-Ferreira; 5. Fa’asalele (cap), 4. Vergé; 3. Merkler, 2. Cramont, 1. Trauth.
Substitutes: 16. Boubila, 17. Bertrand, 18. Arnold, 19. Sentuberry, 20. Jouanny, 21. Gourgues, 22. Tauzin, 23. Ainu’u.