Top 14: Injuries force La Rochelle boss Ronan O'Gara's hand prior to Toulouse clash 

La Rochelle's Irish coach Ronan O'Gara looks during the French Top 14 rugby union match between Rugby Club Toulonnais (Toulon) and Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle). Pic: MATTHIEU RONDEL/AFP via Getty Images

Injuries to key players have forced La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara to rejig his squad for Sunday’s trip to Toulouse.

Centre Jonathan Danty suffered a concussion and scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow a calf injury in last Sunday’s 19-15 home win over Toulon, while he is still waiting to call on Brice Dulin, Levani Botia and Uini Atonio this season.

Even so, O’Gara has named a strong 23 for the match at Stade Ernest Wallon, with Ultan Dillane set for a run-out off the bench, as are Pierre Bourgarit, Will Skelton and Paul Boudehent.

Meanwhile, Ihaia West holds on to the 10 jersey, forming a halfback partnership with Thomas Berjon. New signing Kane Douglas gets his first start in the second row, Antoine Hastoy slides in at fullback, and – more surprisingly – Teddy Thomas gets his first outing of the season at outside centre.

Toulouse manager Ugo Mola is taking no chances with his selections, either, after their bonus-point win over Vannes last weekend.

French international Anthony Jelonch will have to wait at least one more weekend to make his comeback from a second ACL injury, with Francois Cros, Jack Willis and Alexandre Roumat preferred in the starting line-up and Theo Ntamack the only out-and-out backrow on the bench.

The final match of the weekend has a high bar to reach after 41 tries were scored in Saturday’s six matches, to go with the 43 scored in seven games on the first weekend.

Toulouse start as favourites, having won 10 of the last 13 meetings between the sides, but their last game – on the final day of the 2023/24 regular season in June – ended in an entertaining 31-31 draw.

Joey Carbery’s solid Top 14 debut for Bordeaux on Saturday was cut short by a hand injury 40 minutes into their 28-26 defeat at Lyon – which featured Baptiste Couilloud’s 18th try in as many matches and nine in consecutive games, and an impressive performance from rising backrow star Marko Gazotti, who must be on Fabien Galthie’s radar.

But it was Lyon’s kicker Leo Berdeu who had the final word, slotting an after-the-wolf-howl hooter penalty, moments after Damian Penaud had given the visitors a late, late lead.

Racing 92 veteran Henry Chavancy celebrated his 400th appearance for the club with a victory at their temporary home in Creteil.

The 36-year-old replaced boss Stuart Lancaster’s son Dan just after the hour, as Racing beat Clermont 33-20, with La Rochelle-bound Nolan Le Garrec scoring on his return from injury, and Owen Farrell kicking 10 points – and seeing yellow for a high tackle – under the watchful eye of Ireland coach father Andrew, in the stands.

Jeremy Davidson’s Castres only have their ill-discipline to blame after 19 penalties and two second-half yellow cards allowed hosts Toulon to come from behind to win 30-28 courtesy of a converted try in the 78th minute.

Pau are the first side to break the 50-point barrier this season, after running in seven tries in a 51-29 win over Bayonne at Stade du Hameau. Aymeric Luc’s second of the match secured the try-scoring bonus with the clock in the red.

Montpellier, who lost at home on the opening weekend, won on the road on Saturday, beating Perpignan 7-26 in a match played at Beziers’ Stade Raoul-Barriere, with Stade Aime-Giral out of action while a new hybrid pitch is installed.

After conceding six tries last weekend at Bordeaux, Stade Francais shipped another five at home against promoted Vannes, who roared back from 24-10 down at halftime. But the hosts survived to win 34-31.