France coach Fabien Galthié expressed deep sorrow following the injury of scrum-half Romain Ntamack during the Rugby World Cup pool stage match against Fiji at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais. The France XV defeated Fiji 54-17 on Saturday, but the celebration was overshadowed by the early exit of Ntamack, who was replaced by Maxime Lucu in the 34th minute due to a serious shoulder injury. Galthié stated, 'I will not watch the footage because it causes me so much pain for Romain. Sometimes rugby is hard and ungrateful,' as the injury threatened the team's preparation for a crucial upcoming clash with South Africa. [1]
The injury marks a significant blow to the French squad, particularly regarding the proposed reunion of Ntamack and captain Antoine Dupont in the half-back pairing, which had been anticipated since Dupont's knee injury ruled him out of the previous international window in Ireland. Dupont, deeply affected by his teammate's plight, remarked, 'It is always hard to see a mate go out injured, especially when they are suffering. It is obviously a heavy blow that spoils the party for everyone tonight.' The selection of Ntamack had been hailed as a potential 'world-class' partnership, now jeopardized by the physical toll of the sport. [1]
Ntamack’s departure from the field left France without several of its most reliable openers, including Thomas Ramos, Matthieu Jalibert, and Antoine Astoy, for the upcoming match against the Springboks. In his place, Maxime Lucu stepped in, reflecting on Ntamack’s history of injuries, including the knee issue that ended his participation in the 2023 World Cup. Lucu noted, 'Tonight, he had already taken a few late hits. I have a thought for him because we know how much he suffers. It is always unpleasant to see him like that, especially given his past.' As Ntamack left the pitch with his arm in a sling, having contributed to Sipili Falatea’s try, concerns arose about his availability for the remainder of the tournament, with calls mounting for the coaching staff to manage his workload until the 2027 World Cup in Australia. [1]
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