Toulouse (AFP)
Toulouse, whose workforce is already decimated behind, will not be able to count, for administrative reasons, on its South African third row Rynhardt Elstadt to face the Irish province of Munster on Saturday in the round of 16 of the Coupe d ' Europe.
The player had received the green light from the Haut-Garonnais club to go to South Africa, during the recent cut of the Top 14, of the examinations intended to obtain the airline pilot's license.
"He was totally in the nails" to be able to make this return trip to the country before going to Ireland for the European Cup match, Toulouse coach Ugo Mola told a press conference on Wednesday.
However, the Irish government, for fear of the South African variant of Covid-19, has meanwhile changed its requirements for people who have stayed in South Africa, now asking for a period of 14 days before allowing them to enter its territory.
This deprives Elstadt of the trip, despite negative Covid tests, since this period will only be 12 days when the Toulouse residents fly to Limerick on Thursday.
"The new regulations of the EPCR (the organizing body of European competitions) adapt to those of the Irish government," added Mola, frustrated at not being able to see his player "rub" against Irish international CJ Stander .
"There are things that are beyond me."
The Toulouse technician must also deal with "a tight-flow workforce behind", especially in the center after the serious knee injury of Sofiane Guitoune, "an important player in our system and our state of mind".
"We certainly lose a weapon and an incredible human engine", commented Mola, aware of being "very in danger on the back lines".
Because to the injuries of Lucas Tauzin (again operated on Tuesday but hoped for at the end of April), Pierre Fouyssac, Arthur Bonneval, Thomas Ramos and Juan Cruz Mallia are added the very probable package of Yoann Huget, in delicacy with an Achilles tendon, all like Pita Akhi, for whom a decision will be made at the last minute.
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