'It wouldn’t be smart to play him' - O'Gara reveals La Rochelle injury issues
File pic of La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images
Gregory Alldritt is set to return to the La Rochelle side for their season-deciding Champions Cup round-of-16 match against Munster at Stade Marcel Deflandre, after being rested for last weekend’s Top 14 loss at Clermont.
The France international was on holiday last Saturday following the draw at home to Castres, having stepped straight into club action following the Six Nations-deciding victory over Scotland the week previously.
He has recovered from a minor knock that forced him to sit out most of the second half of the domestic top-flight match on March 22.
Les Bleus’ backrow team-mate Paul Boudehent is still out of action after suffering a sternum injury in the match against Castres.
“Paul has a bad back,” manager Ronan O'Gara said at a press conference on Wednesday. “He’s not available.”
The flanker is not expected to return for another 10 days, meaning he would be out of the reckoning for the quarter-finals, even if the Top 14 side win on Saturday afternoon.
Scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, however, should be in the 23 after recovering from a knee injury that had kept him on the sidelines since February, O’Gara revealed.
Loosehead prop Reda Wardi, who was also rested for the trip to Clermont, is expected to be in line for a return to the matchday squad. Jack Nowell, who left the pitch early against Castres, is also fit again and available for selection.
But veteran centre Jonathan Danty will miss Saturday’s match, as he recovers from a knee injury in the defeat at Stade Francais on March 1. “Jo has work to do. It wouldn’t be smart to play him,” said O’Gara.
La Rochelle are currently 10th in the Top 14, and are on an eight-match winless streak stretching back to their Champions Cup loss at home to Leinster on January 12. They lost 33-19 at Clermont last Saturday, after leading 14-6 in the 25th minute.
