Elissalde suffers new injury setback

France international fly-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde's hopes of a Six Nations recall suffered a blow on Saturday when he picked-up an elbow injury in Toulouse's 9-6 Top 14 win over Montauban.

Elissalde was replaced just after kicking a 26th-minute penalty, leaving another international outcast David Skrela to boot the other two penalties which extended Toulouse's lead at the top of the table.

Stade Francais suffered a blow to their hopes of finishing top of the championship when they went down 26-11 to Brive.

Stade were missing several key players because of international duty but nevertheless would have expected to prevail and keep the pressure on Toulouse.

They will also be concerned at a groin injury picked up by Argentinian star Juan Martin Hernandez especially as France international fly-half Lionel Beauxis has a pelvic injury which ruled him out of France's Six Nations victory over Wales on Friday.

However, one consolation for Stade was that former France lock Pascal Pape scored a try in what is only his second game back since being out with a long-term injury.

Cash-rich strugglers Toulon eased their relegation worries on Friday with a 23-12 victory away at Bourgoin, who missed their French international scrum-half Morgan Parra, but it came at the cost of losing player/coach and former All Black great Tana Umaga with a groin injury.

Toulon's victory puts them four points ahead of second from bottom Dax, who were thrashed 44-13 by Biarritz on Saturday.

Castres remain firmly in the relegation mix after losing 43-20 to Clermont, who were seriously under-strength having lost players to the Six Nations.

However, a hat-trick of tries by Fijian wing sensation Napoloni Nalaga saw them to an easy victory and retain their place in the top four, who will progress at the end of the season to the championship play-offs.