Top 14: Antoine Dupont Again Out for Stade Toulousain

Stade Toulousain's star scrum-half Antoine Dupont will again be absent for Friday's Top 14 match against Racing 92, marking his third consecutive game missed due to a hamstring injury sustained in mid-May.

This prolonged absence is a significant concern for the French champions as they approach the Top 14 semifinals on June 19-20. If Dupont is not fully recovered by then, he will have not played for over a month and a half, impacting his match fitness. The situation is further complicated by the unavailability of his usual backup, Paul Graou, who is also sidelined with a muscular injury.

Compounding the issue, the synthetic turf at Paris La Défense Arena, the venue for the Racing 92 match, is not recommended for players with existing muscle or tendon issues. This likely influenced the decision to rest Dupont and other players.

In Dupont's absence, Japanese scrum-half Naoto Saito, who is set to depart at the end of the season, will start at number 9. He will be partnered with Scottish fly-half Blair Kinghorn, as Romain Ntamack is being rested and Thomas Ramos is on the bench. Ange Capuozzo, typically a winger, may also provide cover at scrum-half. Additionally, Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou are out for this match, which has no bearing on Stade Toulousain's standings. The back row has also been reshuffled, with Thomas Lacombre starting at flanker.