Second-row Sam Whitelock, All Blacks legend who was to make his debut with Pau on Saturday against Clermont, withdrew from this match, we learned from the Section on Thursday.
The 35-year-old double world champion and 153 caps with New Zealand suffered a concussion in training last week, said the Béarn club, currently 4th in the Top 14.
Having come to Pau with the desire to “take on different challenges”, Sam Whitelock was happy to start alongside his brother Luke (32 years old, 8 caps), recovered from an elbow operation during the European break and who will regain his captain's stripes against ASM.