Codology.
We should have known Francois Trinh-Duc was not starting for Toulon when he casually missed three kicks from placed balls in the pre-match warm-ups, at Thomond Park, and brushed it off as if nothing hsd happened.
The French No.10, who had an indifferent Six Ntions championship after being recalled by Les Bleus, was named as Toulon’s starting outhalf on Friday afternoon.
A little over 24 hours later and Trinh-Duc had been shifted to the bench.
In a move mirrored by so many modern GAA sides, Toulon made a late change to their starting XV. Just 30 minutes before kick-off, Trinh-Duc was dropped to the bench and replaced by Anthony Bealleau.
#MUNvRCT : Anthony Belleau titulaire en 10 a la place de François Trinh-Duc pic.twitter.com/rFwR2pf0Dr
— Vincent Bissonnet (@VBissonnet) March 31, 2018
The change was apparently down to ‘a printing error’ at Toulon’s headquarters. A new one, to us anyway.
The team sheet submitted by Toulon also had loosehead Florian Fresiaat No.1 instead of Xavier Chiocci. That was definitely the team shared by the EPCR but not in the match programme, which had Chiocci down as starting.
The switch will see Munster have to adapt on the fly and it is something that will be quickly covered in the home dressing room before both sides to Champions Cup quarter final battle.
The late change did little to dampen the expectations of the Munster faithful:
Toulon's bullshittery with the teamsheet doesn't really change anything from a Munster POV #MUNvRCT
— Three Red Kings (@threeredkings) March 31, 2018
Or the French…
Trinh-Duc cède sa place à Belleau pic.twitter.com/vEmKPeSwHv
— Arnaud Coudry (@ArnaudCoudry) March 31, 2018
Give the man some love. Please.
