EUROPEAN CUP NEWS: Stade Francais coach Fabien Galthie has named a squad of 23 players for Saturday's European Cup clash with Ulster at Ravenhill. John O'Sullivan reports.
The former French international scrumhalf will still be without his two first-choice props, Sylvain Marconnet and Pieter de Villiers, but has been boosted by the availability of several players who missed last weekend's 30-10 win over the Irish province.
Not that the props' absence proved a handicap as deputies Rodrigo Roncero and Pablo Lemoine enjoyed storming games.
Scrumhalf Agustin Pichot and full back cum centre Juan Hernandez, both of whom missed the game at Stade Jean Bouin because they were in action for Argentina against South Africa , will be available and are almost certain to earn starting places. There is also a recall for Bastien Siepielski.
Flanker Pierre Rabadan knows just how difficult the game at Ravenhill will be. "Ulster played a much bigger game than the one we had against Cardiff and we know that the return fixture is going to be a very hard game.
"We have never won at Ravenhill. This would be a great moment to get our first victory."
Ulster coach Mark McCall has his own injury concerns, not least outhalf David Humphreys who sustained a foot injury in the first game. He remains a serious concern ahead of today's team announcement, while there are concerns surrounding flankers Neil Best and Campbell Feather, scrumhalf Kieran Campbell and second row Matt McCullough.
Meanwhile former Irish international and current Castres prop Justin Fitzpatrick has warned his team-mates that they face a tough match when they travel to Thomond Park to take on Munster this Saturday. Castres won last Friday night at Stade Pierre Antoine but Fitzpatrick is wary about the re-match.
"It was a great result for Castres and we played good rugby but we'll have to play even better this weekend. We can win there (Thomond Park) but it'll be very difficult, a fact reflected in nobody previously winning there in European competition."
There was a nasty surprise for members of the Munster rugby squad when they returned to their dressingroom following a training session at University of Limerick. A break-in had taken place with mobile phones, money, jewellery and other personal belongings stolen.
STADE FRANCAIS (from): Roncero, Lemoine, Yohan Montes, Siepielski, Blin, Castola, Brouzet. Auradou, James, Rabadan, Martin, Jechoux, Sowerby, Pichot, Fillol, Skrela, Quesada, Liebenberg, Glas, Poulain, Sarramea, Bergamasco, Hernandez.
