Michalak to miss Toulon European clash with Bath

Toulon’s international fly-half Frederic Michalak will miss Saturday’s crucial European Champions Cup Rugby match against English side Bath because of injury.

The three-time defending champions will travel to Bath for their final Pool 5 match leading the table but only have a one point lead over Wasps.

Toulon coaching staff member Jacques Delmas described Michalak’s injury as “less serious than expected” but the 33-year-old would nevertheless sit out the game.

Just a week after returning from a hamstring injury picked at the World Cup, Michalak felt a pain in the back of his thigh during last weekend’s 15-11 win over Wasps.

He had played a key role in the previous Cup match scoring the penalty which ensured a 12-9 win over Bath at home.

Delmas said the medical team would “monitor the evolution of Michalak’s injury week by week”.

With only the five group winners guaranteed places in the quarter-finals, Toulon can’t afford to slip up at Bath despite the English team playing only for pride with no chance of making the knockout rounds.