Top 14: O'Gara shuffles pack for blockbuster Bordeaux clash 

Former Sharks coach - now of Bordeaux - Yannick Bru, meanwhile, has gone full Springbok with a seven-one bench split.

SWITCHING IT UP: La Rochelle's Irish coach Ronan O'Gara looks during to the French Top 14 rugby union match between Rugby Club Toulonnais (Toulon) and Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle) at Stade Mayol.

Teddy Thomas, Jack Nowell and Uini Atonio return to the La Rochelle starting line-up as manager Ronan O’Gara makes a number of changes to his side for a blockbuster final match of the Top 14 weekend against Bordeaux at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Former Sharks coach Yannick Bru, meanwhile, has gone full Springbok with a seven-one bench split.

Thomas starts at outside centre for just the second time in his career on his first outing since the defeat at Toulouse, where he scored twice before leaving the pitch with a thigh injury that has kept him out ever since. 

He will form a midfield partnership with Jonathan Danty.

Nowell is alongside Dillyn Leyds and Brice Dulin in an experienced back three, while Atonio – who has signed a contract extension keeping him at the club through to 2027 – returns to the front row after being rested for last week’s record-equalling defeat against Bayonne in northern Spain.

Ultan Dillane is among five forwards on the La Rochelle bench.

Bordeaux boss Bru will test the Springboks’ notorious seven-one bench split, while hooker Connor Sa is set to make his first start, after missing all of last season with injury, while Maxime Lamothe switches to the bench.

Bru also has chosen to rest his go-to international halfback partnership of Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert, as he gives veteran scrum-half Yann Lesgourgues – rumoured to relocate to Biarritz next season – and Toulon-bound young gun Mateo García a run at nine and 10 respectively.

On Saturday, Jeremy Davidson’s Castres plunged 13th-placed Stade Francais deeper into early-season crisis. 

The home side won 35-13 at Stade Pierre Fabre despite playing 60 minutes with 14 after Adrea Cocagi – 20 minutes into his return from suspension following a red card while playing for Fiji – was sent off for a high elbow into the throat of Samuel Ezeala.

Last season’s ProD2 record-setting try-scorer, Portugal’s Rafael Costa Storti, opened his Top 14 try account on his long-awaited debut for the Parisians.

Stuart Lancaster’s Racing 92 were comfortably second best at Bayonne, for whom Sireli Maqala scored his sixth try of the season.

Two tries in three minutes for Racing – including a first Top 14 touchdown for Dan Lancaster – put a veneer of respectability on the 32-15 result, and denied the home side a try-scoring bonus.

Jiuta Wainiqolo’s 50m stunner is guaranteed to make this week’s Top 14 try highlights reel as Toulon bounced back from last two losses on the road to beat Montpellier 30-17 at Stade Mayol. 

Promoted Vannes, meanwhile remain rooted to the bottom of the table after conceding nine tries in a 55-33 loss at Clermont.

Toulouse climbed provisionally to the top of the table with a 14-22 win at Pau’s Stade du Hameau. 

Jack Willis, who signed a contract extension keeping him at the defending Top 14 champions until 2029 this week, scored the game’s opening try.

Perpignan nearly let a 19-9 halftime lead slip at home against Lyon. Sighs of relief all round at Stade Aime Giral as they escaped 29-26. Tomasso Allan – who will return to the Italy set-up after an eight-month break in November – kicked 19 points for the Catalans.