Blin faith in Hooker

EDINBURGH'S Heineken Cup opponents Stade Francais face the prospect of fielding a hooker at scrum-half when the sides meet at Murrayfield on 23 January.

The Parisians have first choice Julien Dupuy suspended for 24 weeks for gouging, pending an appeal; understudy Noel Oelschig is out with a broken hand and Charlie Davies is absent after an ankle injury against Montauban last weekend.

And, with Stade having already brought in Rabah Simani following an injury to Sergio Parisse, coach Jacques Delmas is not permitted to make any further changes to his squad before the competition reaches the knockout phase.

Benjamin Tardy filled the breach in yesterday's French Championship meeting with Biarritz, but the 21-year-old is ineligible for the European Cup.

Delmas is now preparing to deploy hooker Mathieu Blin from the start of next weekend's match with Bath and then against Edinburgh the following week. Blin has been training with the backs and looks set to start as No.9 on Saturday.