Montpellier (AFP)
The former international and third line center of Montpellier Louis Picamoles, hit a thigh, is forfeited to start the European Cup Sunday (14:00 French) against Connacht, we learned Friday from the club héraultais.
The 33-year-old captain of the MHR injured his training on Friday and was forced to stop for medical exams.
"Since you have to be 100% to play such a match, he will not play," said coach Xavier Garbajosa.
To replace his powerful number 8 (116 kg, 1.92 m), the Montpellier coach has established the Australian Caleb Timu and recalled in the group of 23 flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo, absent since the beginning of the season due to a hip injury.
The former international Picamoles (82 caps) made his return to the MHR Saturday in Toulon (19-19), in the league, three weeks after the elimination of the Blues against Wales at the World Cup in Japan, where he put an end to his international career.
Montpellier, also deprived of his new hooker Guilhem Guirado unavailable for five months because of a rupture of the biceps, will start Sunday his 8th European Cup campaign in the pool next to Toulouse, the English Gloucester and therefore the Irish from Connacht.
The starting XV
Connacht: Leader - Adeolokun, Godwin, Aki, Mr. Healy - (o) Carty, (m) Blade - Butler (cap.), Boyle, Fainga'a - Colby, C. Gallagher - Robertson-McCoy, McCartney, Buckley
Montpellier: Bouthier - N'gandebe, A. Vincent, Serfontein, Reilhac - (o) Cruden, (m) Paillaugue (cap.) - Y. Camara, Timu, K. Galletier - P. Willemse, N. Janse van Rensburg - Haouas, Delhommel, Nariashvili
replacements
Montpellier: B. Du Plessis, Fichten, Jan. Du Plessis, Ouedraogo, Sanga, Bardy, Immelman, Jac. Du Plessis
Connacht: Heffernan, Burke, Kenny, Masterson, Copeland, Kerins, T. Daly, Porch
Referee: Matthew Carley (ENG)
© 2019 AFP