Antoine Dupont injury update: France make devastating statement
Rugby NewsSunday, 09 March 2025 at 14:01
France's worst fears have been confirmed—Antoine Dupont has ruptured his ACL.
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The world's best player is now facing a brutal 6-9 month spell on the sidelines, likely ruling him out for the rest of the year.
He tweeted: "he heart hurts even more than the knee when you have to leave your friends before the last step. I am proud of what we accomplished yesterday and with all my strength with you, you will do it. Rupture of the cruciate ligaments. This is the beginning of a new challenge, I'll see you in a few months on the field"
To make matters worse for Les Bleus, the citing commissioner has decided against taking further action, despite France officially referring the incident.
After the game, an “angry” Galthié has confirmed that France will cite both Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter following the incident that saw Dupont leave the field before half-time in Dublin.
"We will cite both Beirne and Porter," Galthié declared.
He didn’t stop there, also calling for action against Calvin Nash after his collision with Pierre-Louis Barassi.
“Pierre-Louis Barassi has not responded well to the HIA protocol. We want to know why,” he added.
Galthié’s frustration was clear: “There are measures put in place, there are rules. We want the disciplinary commission to study these moments.”
The Dupont moment that stunned the stadium
Dupont’s injury came in a ruck contest, where Beirne appeared to fall onto his right leg. There was no obvious intent, but the impact left the French star screaming in agony.
Maxime Lucu stepped in at scrum-half and delivered a stellar performance, but France will be sweating on Dupont’s condition.
The Nash-Barassi clash
The incident with Barassi was more straightforward – Nash failed to get low enough in the tackle, leading to a head clash. The Ireland winger served his ten minutes in the bin, but France capitalized.
Ruthless France punish Ireland’s indiscipline
France made Ireland pay, racking up 15 points while their opponents were down to 14 men. The final 42-27 scoreline leaves Les Bleus top of the table, with a home win against Scotland now all that stands between them and the title.
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“Brainless Moments” – Five Lions Hopefuls Who Completely Flopped in the Six Nations Yesterday
The Lions squad is taking shape, and every performance is critical in the race for a place.
Unfortunately, for these five players, their chances of being selected for the prestigious tour took a hit thanks to some costly mistakes in the Six Nations today.
Read on to find out which players missed the mark and why others, like Finn Russell, may be leapfrogging them in the race to the Lions.
1. Joe McCarthy: A Card Too Far
McCarthy's ill-timed yellow card for yanking Thomas Ramos off the ball was a complete brainfart, turning the game in France’s favor.
What followed was a disjointed performance from the lock, and though he tried to make up for it, the damage was already done. For a Lions spot, moments like this are tough to overcome.
2. WillGriff John: A 'Binned' Opportunity
John’s yellow card was as unnecessary as it was costly, leaving Wales on the back foot.
He couldn’t redeem himself after returning to the field and even added to his frustrations with a knock-on. If he was hoping to catch the eye of Lions selectors, this was a missed opportunity he won’t soon forget.
3. Bundee Aki: Not Quite the Aki We Know
Aki battled through some early discomfort with a boot to the face, but his performance fizzled out as the game progressed.
Though he was in the thick of the action, his usual dominance didn’t materialize when Ireland needed it most. With other centres rising to the occasion, Aki’s Lions chances look less promising.
4. Jonny Gray: A Solid Enough Shift, But Not Enough
Gray’s performance was steady, but in a squad as competitive as the Lions, steadiness isn’t enough.
He didn’t stand out, and with so many hungry locks vying for a spot, Gray needed to show more to guarantee his place. Solid but not sensational, and that’s just not enough at this level.
5. Sam Prendergast: A Tale of Two Halves
Prendergast started well, nailing crucial kicks and showing promise, but his second half was riddled with errors, including a disastrous intercepted pass that gave France a try.
With Finn Russell now firmly in pole position for the Lions fly-half jersey, Prendergast’s hopes of making the squad have been dealt a major blow.
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