Stade Rochelais – Racing: Favre and Rhule against pair Fickou

On the eve of their first Top 14 semi-final, which will face Stade Rochelais against Racing 92 on Friday (8:45 p.m.), the coaching staff informed their team’s composition.

Deprived of Jeffrey Domeiro, Juno Gibbs and Ronan O’Gara had to adapt to the midfield: South African Raymond Rhule would link up with young Jules Favre. A mix that had already been lined up to receive Pau on the 25th day.

For the rest, it wasn’t a huge surprise. Note, however, the presence of Victor Vito on the substitute bench: New Zealand third has been in trouble with a calf since losing the Champions Cup final against Toulouse.

For his part, Laurent Travers, in a three-quarters-five-star streak, decided to entrust one of his wings to Louis Dupechot at the expense of Donovan Tauvevinoa. Anthony Klassen will start in the third row, just like Hasan Collingar who was still a substitute last week, in the play-off against Stade Francis.

Rochelle Stadium

the team: Dulin – Leyds, Rhule, Favre, Retière – (o) West, (m) Kerr-Barlow – Gourdon, Alldritt, Liebenberg – Skelton, Sazy (c) – Atonio, Bosch, Wardi.

Alternatives: Lagrange, Brisseau, Lavault, Vito, Le Belle, Bleeson, Sweetnam, Julie.

Race 92

the team: Bell – Thomas, Vakatawa, Fico, Dubechot – (o) Russell, (m) Machinod (c) – Diallo, Clasin, Ballou – Bird, Le Roux – Gomez-Sa, Bobigny, Collingar.

Alternatives: Le Guen, Gogichashvili, Ryan, Lauret, Iribaren, Trinh-Duc, Zebo, and Colombe-Reazel.