Top 14: Boost for O'Gara and La Rochelle as Skelton set for minutes before Leinster meeting

Will Skelton of La Rochelle. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Will Skelton is set for a run out in time for La Rochelle’s Champions Cup trip to Leinster next weekend after he was named on the bench for Sunday evening’s Top 14 match against Toulon at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Skelton’s return from an ankle injury is a timely piece of good news for Ronan O’Gara as the second half of the domestic season kicks off. 

He remains without the services of more than a dozen key players as he tweaks his squad for a must-win domestic match before the Champions Cup break. The Australian has not played since the defeat against the same opponents at Stade Mayol on November 8.

O’Gara also welcomed the return from suspension of young second row Charles Kante Samba, who walks straight into the starting line-up after Thomas Lavault picked up a knock in training that will sideline him for several weeks.

Ihaia West, too, is available again after recovering from injury — and is on the bench, with 19-year-old fly-half Diego Jurd starting his second match in a row, behind a very La Rochelle pack.

But O’Gara’s selection options are limited by the continued absences of Paul Boudehent, Pierre Bourgarit, Mathias Haddad, Ultan Dillane, Jonathan Danty, Suliasi Vunivalu, and Semi Lagivala.

This match is nowhere near as vital for Toulon boss Pierre Mignoni. He has named 10 academy players a barely recognisable 23, as he takes no Top 14 chances with key squad members ahead of next weekend’s Champions Cup outing against Munster at Stade Mayol.

With a full infirmary hampering his options, Mignoni has chosen to rest prop Dany Priso, second row Dave Ribbans, backrows Charles Ollivon and Zach Mercer, scrum-half Baptiste Serin and wing Gael Drean, naming a callow starting pack for what promises to be a test of character and squad depth for both sides.

Perpignan climbed off the foot of the table for the first time since September 27, after scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to come from behind to beat a pre-Champions Cup-rotated Toulouse, in which centre Kalvin Gourges started at fly-half for the first time as a professional, 30-27.

Hooker Barnabe Massa scored a hat-trick as Clermont picked up their second win on the road this season, a 34-19 bonus-point win at Montauban, who slipped to the foot of the table as a result.

Another hooker, Christopher Tolofua, also picked up a triple as Montpellier hammered Bayonne 62-22 at the Septeo Stadium. 

The Basque side, who are in Leicester next Saturday, have conceded 381 points in eight away matches in all competitions this season. Manager Gregory Patat’s future at Stade Jean Dauger seems increasingly insecure after president Philippe Tayeb suggested director of rugby Laurent Travers could have direct influence over first-team affairs for the first time.

Lyon broke a losing streak that stretched back to November as they held their nerve to beat second-placed Pau 22-17, while Leo Barre scored in the 79th minute to earn Stade Francais a try-scoring bonus as they beat Castres 33-15 at Stade Jean Bouin.

Champions Cup holders Bordeaux added extra spice to an already mouth-watering repeat of last season’s final against Northampton Saints with a nine-try 62-20 demolition of Racing 92 at Stade Chaban Delmas. 

Damian Penaud, Nicolas Depoortere and Louis Bielle-Biarrey all scored doubles, as the hosts ripped Racing apart in the final quarter, after the visitors had led 15-20 in the 55th minute.