The colossal Posolo Tuilagi is going to have to stay in cold storage for around six weeks. The France international lock (21, 5 caps) has a sprain of the left knee.

The Catalan picked up the injury on the half-hour during his side’s defeat to Montpellier at Béziers last Saturday. He stayed on the pitch before going off a little later. At the end of October, Tuilagi had only just returned after suffering a stress fracture in his right leg.

“Five or six kilos too many”

Another physical setback for one of the most promising forwards in French rugby, who was the target of a remark from his new manager Laurent Labit after the game against MHR. “You cannot come back after ten days’ holiday five or six kilos too heavy, it makes the return to work difficult“, said the former France backs coach”.

Before adding: “You cannot have consistent workloads, and in the end, you get injured“. Already hampered by injuries to Allan, Tedder, Forner, Warion, McIntyre, Sobela, Velarte and Yato, USAP could well have done without this one.

Good news, on the other hand, with the returns of internationals Ruiz and Oviedo (Argentina), Malolo (Samoa), Tetrashvili and Aprasidze (Georgia) as well as Scotland’s Jamie Ritchie.