Toulouse v St Helens: Saints make five changes for France trip
Konrad Hurrell in action for St Helens
Super League champions St Helens have made five changes to their squad for Saturday’s trip to newly-promoted Toulouse Olympique.
The Saints will be without Alex Walmsley, Sione Mata’utia and Joe Batchelor due to injury.
Samoa international Mata’utia will serve a two-match suspension. But he has been ruled out of action for four to six weeks anyway with injury.
On Walmsley and Mata’utia, St Helens coach Kristian Woolf said: “They are both hamstring-related, but we think Alex will only be two weeks. We are not quite sure how long with Sione, but we think between four to six weeks.
“They have been two of our best forwards over the opening rounds and it is obviously a blow.
“But in the big scheme of things over a long season, two weeks is not going to hurt Al too much.
“While four to six is a lot more significant for Sione, there is a lot of footy to be played and we are going to be fine and able to cope without those guys.”
Tonga international Will Hopoate picked up a small knock in training this week so he isn’t risked. Scotland international James Bell is the other player to drop out.
They are replaced by Konrad Hurrell, who returns from suspension. Dan Norman, Jake Wingfield, Sam Royle and Lewis Baxter come into the 21-man squad.
Emma Jones asks Drew Darbyshire for his Super League predictions
Meanwhile, Toulouse have made one change to their squad that lost at Wakefield last week. Winger Ilias Bergal replaces prop Ellis Robson, who will serve a one-match suspension.
Romain Navarrete, Mitch Garbutt, Joseph Paulo and Hugo Pezet could feature for Toulouse. They didn’t play at Wakefield last time out.
Toulouse: Marcon, Albert, Navarrete, Hansen, Dixon, Peyroux, Marion, Pelissier, Puech, Bretherton, Paulo, Garbutt, Bergal, Hankinson, Sangare, Armitage, Russell, Pezet, Ashall-Bott, Stefani, Gigot.
St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Percival, Lomax, Dodd, Roby, Lees, Knowles, Lussick, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Sironen, Paasi, Amor, Wingfield, Simm, Davies, Hurrell, Norman, Royle, Bennison, Baxter.
The Super League round six fixture takes place at the Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday (6pm), live on Sky Sports.
PLAY: Our free Fantasy Rugby League competition is back for 2022