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France confirm double injury blow in dire morning for hosts
By Ian Cameron
World Cup hosts France have confirmed a double injury blow following on from news this morning that star flyhalf Romain Ntamack will miss the Rugby World Cup with an ACL injury.
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In a statement, the FFR writes: “Romain Ntamack was hit in the left knee and had to leave the field. Imaging performed this morning diagnosed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. Consequently, Romain Ntamack will be forfeited for the World Cup.”
The union have also confirmed that starting prop Cyril Baille – who is considered by many to be the best loosehead in the sport – will now also likely miss the tournament.
“For Cyril Baille, who was replaced during the match, the imaging performed this morning diagnosed a musculo-aponeurotic detachment of the internal gastrocnemius (right calf). His unavailability would be 5 to 6 weeks.”
Such a forecast will see Baille miss the entire pool stages of the competition, but given that context it is unlikely Fabien Galthie will bring him as part of his 33-man squad.
Romain, on pense très fort à toi. 😢
Tout le groupe est à ton soutien, on te souhaite un bon rétablissement ❤️🩹🙏@RomainNtamack #UnisPourUnRêve #NeFaisonsXV #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/lfj1UIHWPj— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) August 14, 2023
They have also released tighthead Demba Bamba back to his club after he suffered an ankle injury against Scotland in the Murrayfield match played nine days ago.
“In addition, Demba Bamba was injured during the Scotland-France match on Saturday August 5 in Edinburgh. Following an ankle contusion, he benefited from an adjustment of his training last week. He is released to his club this week. Thomas Laclayat (25 years old, 0 selection, Racing 92) has joined the group of 42 players from the XV of France.”
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France are set to face Fiji and Australia in their remaining two Rugby World Cup warm-up games, before taking on the All Blacks in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup in Paris on September 8th.
I think Baille is the bigger loss of the two. Ntamack is excellent, but Jelly Bear is always waiting in the wings, whereas there really isn't a 1 for 1 replacement for Baille.
I hate to see this. We've been waiting 4 years for this, we want to see all the top players duke it out, and the best players seem to be dropping like flies these days.
What's the point to those inconsequential warm-up friendlies, that no one will care about the next Monday, if it cost us some of the best players missing their chance to shine at the RWC?
I question the utility of these warm up games, supposedly to prepare players for the world cup but these days, they only serve to get players banned and injured. France v Scotland was spectacular at the weekend but not worth a dime if you lost your best prop and playmaker.
France have enough depth to recover from that but other teams don't so I don't really see the point, particularly for sides like NZ and SA who are coming off the back of massive games in the RC.
The ABs v England game is likely to turn into a farce with a third string NZ side facing what will have to be England's best test team to face Argentina.
That's a damn shame, I want all of the best players playing at this World Cup, gutted for him, he's young enough that he'll probably be at the next two but he'll never get another chance to play in a home World Cup again.
Now I'm worried about the All Blacks Springboks warm up, hopefully both sides come out fine, although I suspect that they'll be resting the top players.