Stade Francais pair Delbouis and Briatte out of Munster clash
Stade Francais' French centre Julien Delbouis (C) runs with the ball during the French Top 14 rugby union match between Union Sportive Oyonnax (Oyonnax) and Stade Francais (Photo by ARNAUD FINISTRE/AFP via Getty Images)
Stade Francais centre Julian Delbouis and backrow Romain Briatte will not travel to Munster for Saturday's Champions Cup opener after picking up thigh injuries in last weekend's Top 14 defeat at Bayonne.
Delbouis suffered a torn quadricep during warm-up, forcing a late realignment of the back line, with winger Lester Etien moving to the midfield and Samuel Ezeala coming into the starting lineup on the wing. Briatte limped off with the same injury shortly after the hour.
Loosehead Sergo Abramashvili will remain behind in Paris after suffering a brain injury five minutes after coming on at Stade Jean Dauger.
Also missing will be powerhouse second row JJ van der Mescht, who has been suspended for four weeks following his red card in the win over Racing 92 on November 24.
Meanwhile, scrum-half Jules Gimbert has been loaned to ProD2 side Nice. With Hugo Zabalza also out on loan at Montauban, Stade have just two nines on the books - experienced All Black Brad Weber and rising academy star Thibaut Motassi.
In better news, South African centre Jeremy Ward is set for a return to the Parisian side's midfield after missing last weekend's Top 14 match with concussion.
