Montpellier (AFP)
The Fijian winger of Montpellier Nemani Nadolo, absent since the beginning of the season, will make his return Sunday on the occasion of the meeting before the English of Gloucester, one learned from the club héraultais.
Nadolo, 31, is recovering from a back injury that denied him the first 10 games of the season. He will replace the young Gabriel Ngandebe, who was left alone after the conceded opening loss of the season at Connacht (23-20).
The former Fijian international, who ended his international career a few months before the World Cup in Japan, had scored 25 trials in all competitions in his first season at the MHR (2017-2018) and allowed his team to to reach the final of the championship. "This is the X factor of our team," said coach Xavier Garbajosa.
Meanwhile, third-row Fulgence Ouedraogo (33) and South African hooker Bismarck Du Plessis (35), who have recovered from a shoulder and thigh injury respectively, will return to a first-place spot. of the season. The two former internationals came into play last week in Ireland.
Montpellier is forced to win Sunday in front of Gloucester, during the second day of the European Cup, to preserve a chance of qualification for the quarter-finals.
The starting XV:
Montpellier: Immelman - Reilhac, A. Vincent, Serfontein, Nadolo - (o) Bouthier, (m) Paillaugue (cap.) - Y. Camara, Timu, Ouedraogo - Mikautadze, Jac. du Plessis - Chilachava, B. du Plessis, Fichten
Gloucester: Woodward - Rees-Zammit, Harris C., Twelvetrees, Thorley - (o) L. Evans, (m) Braley - Ja. Kriel (cap.), Clarke, Polledri - Grobler, Craig - Balmain, C. Fourie, Hohneck
replacements
Montpellier: Delhommel, Nariashvili, Haouas, Devergie, Sanga, Martin V., Darmon, P. Willemse
Gloucester: Gleave, Rapava-Ruskin, Ford-Robinson, Ackermann, Ludlow, Simpson, Atkinson, Banahan
Referee: George Clancy (IRL)
© 2019 AFP