XV of France - Fiji: “So sad for him”… Romain Ntamack injured, the final tile before the Springboks

At the OL Park in Lyon-Décines,

On the sidelines, a few minutes after the clear success of the Blues against Fiji (54-17), Saturday in Lyon, Fabien Galthié suddenly took his eyes away from the TF1 screens during his interview. And for good reason, Isabelle Ithurburu had just announced slowdowns in the injury of Romain Ntamack, forced to give up his place to Maxime Lucu in the 34th minute of play. It was THE false note of a great evening with eight tries scored for the XV of France.

“I’m not going to watch the images because it makes me feel so bad for Romain,” he confided then. Sometimes rugby is hard and thankless. » All while immediately announcing an “end of the Nations Championship” for the Toulouse opening half, while a tantalizing shock against South Africa is looming, next Friday at the Stade de France. In question “a fairly serious injury to the shoulder”.

Antoine Dupont very sad for Ntamack

Later, the French coach continued to the media: “He went to the hospital to do tests. He came out immediately since he felt his shoulder pop out. We gave it to him. » And it was with his left arm in a sling and his face very marked that Romain Ntamack left the pitch, just after having been at the origin of the try by Sipili Falatea (32nd), at the end of a raid which could cost him dearly.

A sad epilogue for what promised to be a dream reunion between Antoine Dupont and him, for a world-class hinge reconstituted in the French team for the first time since March 2025, and this famous match in Ireland fatal to the knee of the captain of the Blues. “It’s always hard to see a friend go out injured, and especially in pain,” noted this last Saturday evening. This is obviously a hard blow which partly spoils the party this evening. »

“We know he’s in a lot of pain”

Especially since the massacre is now insane for the French openers, between Thomas Ramos, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Astoy and now Romain Ntamack, all out to fight the Springboks. How do you bounce back in such a key position, when your four most reliable recourses are all on the floor? “The group will have to move forward and adapt, as we have always done until now,” summarizes Antoine Dupont simply. Even before commenting on his start against South Africa, which appears to be the most logical choice in this fishy context, Maxime Lucu was turned towards this great cursed Romain Ntamack, whose serious knee injury had notably ruined his 2023 World Cup.

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