Winless Clermont have left several first-choice players in France for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup clash against the Sharks at Kings Park.
Already bottom of Pool 1 and out of contention for the playoffs, the Top 14 club has opted to manage its resources with an eye firmly on the domestic campaign rather than risking key personnel on the long journey to South Africa.
They face a trip of nearly 20 hours to Durban via Frankfurt and Joburg.
Clermont will be without a quartet injured in last weekend’s loss to the Glasgow Warriors, with front-rankers Etienne Falgoux and Sacha Lotrian, loose forward Selevasio Tolofua and winger Bautista Delguy all ruled out.
More telling, however, is the decision to rest a number of influential first-choice players. Pita-Gus Sowakula, Régis Montagne, Rob Simmons, Harry Plummer and George Moala have been left in Clermont to undergo a week of targeted training ahead of the resumption of the Top 14.
The absence of Simmons, Plummer and Moala in particular deprives the side of significant experience and leadership, while Sowakula’s exclusion removes a key ball-carrying threat from the back row.
Instead, the travelling group features a mix of squad players and fringe starters, including younger forwards and backline combinations who will be tasked with fronting up against a Sharks side still fighting to secure a place in the round of 16.
CHAMPIONS CUP POOL 1: Sharks living on the edge
The Sharks sent their own weakened team to face Sale in Manchester last weekend, with an eye firmly fixed on the Clermont clash on Saturday, and lost 26-10.
Clermont touring squad
Front-rowers: Giorgi Akhaladze, Giorgi Dzmanashvili, Etienne Fourcade, Mathéo Frisach, Barnabé Massa, Cristian Ojovan, Seilala Lam, Giga Tutisani
Locks: Thomas Ceyte, Thibaud Lanen, Léo Michaux
Loose forwards: Lucas Dessaigne, Anthime Hemery, Pio Muarua, Killian Tixeront, Baptiste Veschambre
Halfbacks: Niek Doornenbal, Juan Montilla, Tom Raffy, Lucas Zamora
Centres: Irae Simone, Alivereti Loaloa, Alex Newsome
Wings/fullbacks: Yérim Fall, Timéo Frier, Axel Guillaud, Joris Jurand, Kylan Hamdaoui
Photo: Dave Winter/INPHO
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