Key absences for Sunday's match

Several key players will be missing from Sunday evening's match at Hameau, including Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Émilien Gailleton, and Theo Attissogbe. The game, part of the 8th round of the Top 14, will see ten French internationals selected, with five in each team, excluding those injured.

Lineup changes and new combinations

The lineups announced on Saturday include some unusual pairings. For Toulouse, Anthony Jelonch will lead as captain alongside Alexandre Roumat and Marc-Élie Kouassi in the back row. In the first line, Benjamin Bertrand, Thomas Lacombre, and Georges-Henri Colombe will form an unusual front row. Opposite them, Julian Montoya, Beka Gorgadze, and Facundo Isa will provide strong opposition.

Exciting opportunities in the centers

In the center positions, Célian Pouzelgues and Lukas Amati will face Tumua Manu and Rodrigo Marta. Pouzelgues, a former rugby sevens player, is expected to step up after being encouraged by coach Clément Poitrenaud to prove his worth in the starting lineup. This match offers a great chance for him to showcase his skills against a strong defense.

New opportunities for young players

Grégoire Arfeuil will start at wing for Pau, marking his first minutes of the season. Known for scoring nine tries in the Top 14 last year, Arfeuil is set to leave for Clermont, but he has a chance to impress before his departure. With some key players absent, he may have an opportunity to highlight his finishing abilities.

Duel in the halfbacks and fullbacks

In the halfbacks, Paul Graou and Blair Kinghorn will face off against Thibault Daubagna and Joe Simmonds. This match could be crucial in controlling the game's tempo. Meanwhile, Axel Despérès will start at fullback for Toulouse, facing Matthis Remue of Pau. Both players are expected to contribute to the team's movement from the backline.

Impact of the benches

Both teams have strong bench options that could influence the second half. Toulouse may bring on Cyril Baille, Joshua Brennan, Mathis Castro-Ferreira, and Theo Ntamack, while Pau has Sacha Zegueur, Daniel Bibi Biziwu, and Thomas Souverbie ready to make an impact. These players could be key in the final stages of the match when fatigue sets in.