'Important' La Rochelle player in doubt for Final
CHAMPIONS CUP NEWS: La Rochelle’s Fiji centre Levani Botia remains a doubt for this weekend’s European Final, despite returning to training.
Botia, 32, has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the semifinal victory over Leinster on May 2, but has been back on the field ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Toulouse at Twickenham.
“Nothing has been decided. He’s in the hands of the medical department. We’re just Tuesday, we have important days to come,” former Ireland flyhalf and now La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara said on Tuesday.
“He’s a very important player for the club. But if he doesn’t make it, it’s not the end of the world,” he added.
In Botia’s absence O’Gara could need to re-shuffle his midfield with expected stand-in Pierre Aguillon ruled out until the end of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday’s league hammering over Agen.
O’Gara, who won the tournament twice as a player with Munster, could move South Africa wing Raymond Rhule into the centre for the club’s first Champions Cup Final.
