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Bernard Le Roux on what really happened in that AWJ incident: 'I feel bad about it'
By Ian Cameron
French forward Bernard Le Roux has given his side of story with regards to a citing complaint made against him following France’s recent match with Wales.
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The second-row forward was cited for striking Welsh skipper Alun Wynes Jones with a forearm during France’s 38 – 21 friendly win in Paris on October 24th. The disciplinary panel looked favorably on Le Roux and cleared him, although the decision raised some eyebrows in the media.
Two weeks on and Le Roux has addressed in the indiscretion on Le French Rugby Podcast. “I didn’t really notice it happen during the game. I only really noticed it after the game during the videos. I thought, ‘this looks really bad’.
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“I was pretty stressed. I didn’t sleep for two days. I’ve got quite a history with tackling and rucking… obviously, that’s my job. Physicality has always been part of my game.
“I was super stressed after the game. It was really accidental, although a lot of people don’t really think about it. We were in this struggle on the ground after the tackle. I don’t know if you saw this, but I fall to my left hand in this really awkward position and my shoulder sort of bends behind my back and I was really looking to go to ground with my forearm.
“And my arm has sort of slid over his face. It looked really bad. It looked horrible but honestly, it was accidental. I feel bad about it.”
“It was really an accident although you guys don’t think so. I’m just glad I got off.”
Podcast anchor Benjamin Kayser joked that: “I would have loved to see the face of your lawyer when you tried to explain that one. I would have been hiding under the table with sweat drops down my forehead.
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“I don’t Alun Wyn Jones took any offence at all. Rugby is a battle, rugby has a serious physical side. I think that last elbow was too much and you were lucky, but if you got away, then fair play. Who’s gives a s***. Let’s move on.”
