Paris (AFP)

After almost four weeks without playing, La Rochelle is back on the path to the Top 14 with a delicate trip to Bayonne, a team in shape, Friday at the start of the 4th day also marked by the return of Racing 92.

On September 12, the Rochelais lost in Toulouse (39-23) and have not set foot on the grounds of the French Championship since.

After two weeks of truce due to European competitions, where it was no longer in the race, the team of N.8 des Bleus Grégory Alldritt should have resumed last Saturday with the reception of Racing 92.

But the discovery of nine cases of Covid-19 contamination in the Ile-de-France workforce, staff included, caused the meeting to be postponed indefinitely.

A situation anything but ideal for the Rochelais before facing the Basques in full confidence.

After more than 40 points conceded in Brive (42-23), Aviron bayonnais has chained two victories against strongholds of the championship: at home against Clermont (21-19) then in Paris against the French Stadium (26-19) ).

Led by the back Gaëtan Germain (21 points), one of its new recruits, the Basque team delivered a successful performance to Jean-Bouin, but has not yet reached cruising speed according to its trainer Yannick Bru .

"There are a lot of things to improve on this match (in Paris) but on the other hand there is the state of mind, there is organization in defense, there is solidity in front and there is solidarity, "said the coach.

For its part, La Rochelle had started the season with a success against Toulon (29-15) before losing to Stade Toulouse and the speed of the South African winger world champion Cheslin Kolbe, author of two tests including a sumptuous during this match.

In Bayonne, the Rochelais should be able to count on almost all their living forces, such as the three captains, Romain Sazy, Victor Vito and Alldritt or the winger Arthur Retière, retained in the group of 31 of the XV of France to face the country of Wales October 24.

The international pillars Dany Priso and Vincent Pelo, operated respectively on a finger and cervical, are absent for several months.

But Tongan Loni Uhila has arrived as a medical joker to replace Pelo.

- The coronavirus is hitting Castres -

For the reception of the Toulouse Stadium on Saturday, Racing 92 hopes not to be too diminished, after the wave of coronavirus contaminations last week.

This did not spare, in particular, the Argentine winger Juan Imhoff author of the decisive test in the semi-final of the European Cup against the English club Saracens at the end of September.

After the closure of its training center for at least five days, the Ile-de-France club has chosen to place its players in isolation in a hotel to reduce the risk of new infection, as the final of the Champions looms. Cup against the English of Exeter, October 17 in Bristol (England).

The Castres club has once again been struck by the coronavirus.

On Wednesday, eleven positive cases were detected within the workforce.

Then Thursday, new PCR tests revealed five new positive cases, said the Tarn club.

In this context, the League confirmed Thursday the postponement "to a later date" unspecified the match Castres-Brive.

The trip of the Castres, last week, to Montpellier, had already been postponed.

Like La Rochelle, Montpellier also resumes after four weeks of hiatus.

It will be Saturday in Toulon.

Program of the 4th day of Top 14:

Friday

(8:45 p.m.) Bayonne - La Rochelle

Saturday

(6.15 p.m.) Agen - French stadium

Toulon - Montpellier

(9:00 p.m.) Racing 92 - Toulouse

Sunday

(7:00 p.m.) Pau - Lyon

(9:10 p.m.) Bordeaux-Bègles - Clermont

© 2020 AFP