France No.10 Romain Ntamack has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup because of a knee injury, robbing the tournament of one of its star players.
The 24-year-old Ntamack ruptured cruciate ligaments in his left knee in the second half of the 30-27 victory over Scotland in a World Cup warm-up on Saturday, the team said following scans.
Matthieu Jalibert is set to fill in as Ntamack’s understudy when the tournament begins in France on September 8.
“Romain, we are thinking of you a lot,” the French rugby federation posted on Twitter.
“The whole group is supporting you. We wish you a good recovery.”
In his own post, Ntamack wrote: “I’ll be back.”
The exciting halfback partnership between Ntamack and scrumhalf Antoine Dupont has been one of the key reasons behind France’s improvement under coach Fabien Galthié since the last World Cup in 2019.
France, which has never won the World Cup, is one of the favourites.
Prop Cyril Baille could also miss the tournament after sustaining a calf injury against Scotland that will keep him out for up to six weeks.
Ntamack featured in every minute of the side’s 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam victory.
“It is absolutely devastating, especially when you are one of the home players, you have the opportunity to play at home and you are one of the favourites to win it,” former England international Ugo Moyne told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast on the BBC.
His father Emile, who played at the 1995 and 1999 World Cups, said: “It will take a little time to digest.
“We are still a little in shock, even if he felt it coming since his injury.
“We were hoping for a pleasant surprise this morning (Monday) but we weren’t under too many illusions. It didn’t feel right. He had already taken blows to the knee and he felt it wasn’t as usual.”
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera posted on Twitter that the national side would miss Ntamack’s “flair”.
“There’s no doubt you’ll be close by and that this dream belongs to you as well,” she wrote.
England have also suffered a setback with No.9 Jack van Poortvliet to miss the World Cup to undergo surgery on an ankle injury sustained against Wales.
The 22-year-old Leicester back was forced off in the first half of the 19-17 Twickenham win and has been replaced in Steve Borthwick’s 33-man World Cup squad by Northampton’s Alex Mitchell.
England head coach Steve Borthwick said: “It’s really bad luck for Jack and we send him our very best wishes for a swift and successful recovery.”
Mitchell joins Ben Youngs and Danny Care as Borthwick’s scrum-half options for the World Cup in France next month.
The 26-year-old was unfortunate to miss out on the original squad after making four impactful replacement appearances during the 2023 Six Nations Championship, injecting energy and tempo into England’s play.
England continue their World Cup build-up against Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
England are also waiting anxiously on a judiciary hearing that is likely to cost Owen Farrell a chunk a of the tournament following a red card against Wales last weekend.
Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi could be set for a Test comeback 113 days after knee surgery when the team faces wales this weekend.
On Monday, during an online press briefing from the team’s base in Cardiff, assistant coach Dean Human talked up Kolisi’s chances.
“Last week, Siya trained with us fully. Naturally, players don’t just come back and play 80 minutes from the get-go,” said Human.
“I think Siya is in a very good place. He is taking contact and he scrummed with us as well. He has given us everything, which we expect. In my department, I am very happy with what I’ve seen. Hopefully, he can put in a good shift, whether that is this weekend or next weekend, because we don’t know when he is going to be let loose.
“I just think that he is one of the dogs you want in the fight, whenever he does get set loose.”
WEST
Roar Guru
Thats BS.. they’ve back themselves into a corner now. It’s going to be lose, lose situation for them. Someone just needs to smash Owen the same way. Then if he gets carded refuse to leave. Something has to be done. It’s beyond a joke now
moaman
Roar Guru
ps Apparently WR isn't directly responsible for the decision on Farrell so I take that bit back.
WEST
Roar Guru
It’s a joke.. :thumbdown:
moaman
Roar Guru
West, the proverbial will hit the youknowwhat if one of one's own team is red-carded during the tournament for a similar offence. WR has done the game a massive disservice in my view.
WEST
Roar Guru
See Owen Farrell is free to play :angry: .. So World Rugby has set the precedent. It’s perfectly legal to smash opponents heads with shoulders :thumbup: let’s get into it!!!
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
its difficult to determine especially the gap between games. For Oz and NZ do they go a month with no game for their top players before the big opening round game or do the players need game time. Having the RC early helps not having to bring players back from the off season but it does take alot of game management. Ireland may have the best group game format as easy to harder but will make the knockout harder. If SA lose to Scotland then that puts them on the back foot and last thing they want is to show up with a team that played like it did v NZ.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
As the 6Ns showed going down to 4th choice tight head did nothing to the team and the replacement was able to set up. Toulouse alone have nearly two international frontrows and the La Rochelle frontrows apart from Atonio are just starting to get their caps for France. In most positions they have a massive amount of talent that all play a similar way. Jaminet who started v NZ in 2021 at 15 last played for France on the Japan tour in 2022. To show the strenght of Toulouse he is the back up 15 for Ramos with Toulouse.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I think alot get caught up in Ntamack but the replace 9 and 10 would be pushing for most teams. France also are alot less reliant on the 10. As long as their is no more injury for France most rucks will be Dupont at the base of the ruck to could do anything (and will have forwards seaming through to be his support runners, Danty or any of the pack either side for the bust up the middle, they will then have Jailibert and Ramos either side to run a play. Alot less falls on the French 10 compared to the Oz or NZ 10. French 10 doesn't even have to worry about goal kicking as the 9, 10 & 15 are all expected to be goal kickers.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
While Ntamack is a big loss both Jailibert and Hastoy are nice replacements who have been in big games and well able to fill the gap. Hastoy was 10 for La Rochelle this year having moved from Pau (played 106 game for Pau). Jailibert has 100 games with Bordeaux. For me giving the reins to Jailibert with no Ntamack hanging around at 12 or the bench should see him coming into his own. JVP is a bit of a loss but not sure he would have been picked for the big games as v Argentina or any knockout games the old head of Youngs or Care would be picked. Even Tigers for the Prem semi had him on the bench. You have to wonder when you see players like Kolisi coming back quicker than expected how much of it is down to not wanting to miss his last WC. May be great but massive risk of making it worse and ending his career earlier. Big risk.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
I have calculate that New Zealand (28.7%) and Ireland (23.6%) have the highest probability to win the tournament, followed by France (14.8%) and then South Africa (13.2%). This was published in the article below in May this year. Many experts disagreed and believed that France should be favourites based on their good performances at the end of 2022 and early 2023. We know that humans are pretty poor at judging probabilities and that our decisions are plagued with many mental shortcuts or biases. Two of these biases were IMO at play: the Availability bias where we put to much weight on recent results and the bias to ignore base rates (the longer term performances of teams against each other and in tournaments). I used a Bayesian Monte Carlo model to model the tournament. A model that I carefully calibrated. Such a model allows us to adjust probabilities (priors) by incorporating conditional probabilities from more recent results resulting in a new probabilities (posterior). I will update the model and fine tuned it prior to the RWC and during the RWC but don’t expect a large differences. Remember although NZ has a 28% to win the RWC, it is far more likely (72%) that NZ will not win the RWC. https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/05/15/the-winners-and-losers-of-the-rwc-2023-draw-and-why-the-all-blacks-are-really-favourites/
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Injuries and cards already taking their toll and it hasn’t even begun yet ..Still reinforces that you need depth ..More so this WC than any previously ..France , South Africa , NZ all running distinct so called A and B teams in the build up ..Why ?? because they know ….Big question …How many teams in this upcoming tournament can put two equally good sides on the Park ..? Yup..NZ , France , SA..Nobody else ….
Rusty
Roar Guru
Baille is a bigger losss than Ntamack - Jalibert played throughout the 6N and was superb. France have props but I would say most of their quality is on the TH side - although with Bamba also out thats also got a bit thinner but he isnt the starter like Baille
Tooly
Roar Rookie
France should borrow Lolisio . He is a dead ringer for NTmack .
1987
Roar Rookie
Some big upsets looming in this World Cup. In group stage only Group A looks predictable, NZ & France advance in whatever order. Groups B, C & D have at least 3 teams all capable of advancing. Ireland, SA & Scotland are the group of death IMO. And don’t discount Tonga, they have world class players throughout their side. Australia, Wales & Fiji will be capable of beating each other. Argentina, England, Japan & Samoa all capable of beating each other on current form. Should be a cracking pool stage.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
ABs > France > Ireland according to the bookies. Although I imagine WC history and being on the trickier side of the draw go against Ireland.
Grobu
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately, it didn't quite end in a try, only in a penalty and yellow card for Savea :happy:
The jackler
Roar Rookie
We are still underdogs. Ireland must be favoured ahead of us. The ABs have only just hit their stride after last years wobbles. Ireland are well and truely in the groove.
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
No amount of bambooism, can straighten that tail.....
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
Jalibert is a very competent replacement for Ntamack. I do not think it diminishes France's position as favourite at all. He would walk into most other countries team. He has played 20+ times for France and is, like so much of the French team, still in his early 20's. But, difficult to replace the understanding Dupont and Ntamack have.
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
I am very disappointed for Ntamack and France - we are robbed of one the great stars of contemporary Rugby. I think no-one will miss him more than his friend and club team partner, Dupont. Because of Dupont's brilliance many overlook just how good Ntamack is; he is a very solid defender and an exceptional reader of the game. He sees opportunities others do not. Who will forget his run from in-goal (against NZ I think) that ended in a try at the other end of the field or his cross field kick to Penaud against England. Fabulous stuff.