CASTRES ARE SET to be without key duo Rory Kockott and Antonie Claassen when Leinster visit the Stade Pierre-Antoine on Sunday in the Heineken Cup.
The Top 14 club’s injury statement this week included the news that the scrum-half and No. 8, both heavily linked with moves away from the reigning champions at the end of the season, are “unavailable and should return for the trip to Northampton” a week later.
That Castres are without Kockott and Claassen is certainly a boost to Leinster’s chances of an away win, even if the Tarn-based side have competent replacements in both positions. Impressive back three specialist Geoffrey Palis is another doubt for the game as he continues to recover from the sprained thumb he sustained against Bordeaux last weekend.
Former Ulster back row Pedrie Wannenburg is the fourth concern for head coaches David Darricarrère and Serge Milhas, with the South African carrying a thigh problem. On the flip side, Mathieu Bonello, Brice Mach, Mike Coetzee and Romain Martial all return to the selection mix for the Pool 1 encounter, with the latter offering an imposing presence out wide.
Castres will undergo a full-on squad training session today, with video analysis and more field work tomorrow, before their captain’s run on Saturday afternoon. Kick-off for the clash with Leinster on Sunday is 12.45pm [Irish time].
