With Skelton, doubts around Vito, suspense for Kerr Barlow. The echoes of La Rochelle before the final of the European Rugby Cup against the Irish province of Leinster on Saturday (5:45 p.m.) at the Stade-Vélodrome, in Marseille.
For their second consecutive European final, the Maritimes should field a very competitive team, close to the one that dominated Racing 92 in the semi-finals, the vast majority of which was spared last weekend when the Stade came French in Top 14.
Absent in Lens against Racing (20-13 on May 15), the Australian colossus Will Skelton, recovered faster than announced from the calf – he played a quarter of an hour last weekend – will be present against Leinster . On the other hand, the New Zealand third line Victor Vito, who will end his career at the end of the season, suffers from the left ankle and remains very uncertain for Saturday.
At scrum half, the broken hand of New Zealand starter Tawera Kerr Barlow should have propelled the young starter Thomas Berjon. Except that the Irish manager Ronan O’Gara imagined being able to play his All Black world champion with a glove used for the practice of hurling, a Gaelic sport. It is therefore a race against time that has begun for “TKB”.
Finally, the rear Brice Dulin, arrested for several weeks, resumed collective training with good feelings. It remains to be seen whether O’Gara will revive him against his compatriots, who were impressive against Toulouse in the semi-finals (40-17 on May 14).
