Latest news with #RomainNtamack
Reuters
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Understrength French an unwelcome 'deja vu' in New Zealand
July 1 (Reuters) - An understrength and unapologetic France kick off their three-test tour of New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday, offering a Gallic shrug to a host nation raging at the absence of some of the Six Nations champions' top players. France coach Fabien Galthie picked 17 uncapped players in his squad of 37, with a slew of senior figures rested from the Dunedin opener due to the Top 14 championship match last Saturday. Galthie may reinforce his Gael Fickou-captained squad for the final tests in Wellington and Hamilton with up to five players from the Top 14 finalists, Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles. That could bring fullback Thomas Ramos, lock Thibaud Flament and wingers Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey into the mix. But flyhalf Romain Ntamack is unlikely to feature after having knee surgery in the wake of Toulouse's triumph, while scrumhalf Antoine Dupont has been sidelined with an ACL injury since the Six Nations in March. They would add to an absentee list which includes loose forwards Gregory Alldritt and Paul Boudehent, and prop Jean-Baptiste Gros. Injuries and calendar constraints notwithstanding, the B-squad has been viewed dimly in New Zealand, seven years after a similarly depleted France were trounced 3-0 on their last tour. "I'm really disappointed with the way the French always seem to come up with excuses to not bring their top players," former All Blacks halfback and TV pundit Justin Marshall fumed on Sky Sports. "Our fans deserve to see their best players playing in our country against our All Blacks because we do that in November to them." Galthie has said he had no other solution than to pick a developmental squad. "I think that's pretty clear. Or the New Zealanders will have to help us reinvent a national calendar," he told a press conference last month. New Zealand Rugby might like the idea of tweaking the calendar but can only hope that a contest is served up and fans will not feel short-changed. In 2018, Steve Hansen's All Blacks humiliated the French with a combined scoreline of 127-38 from the three tests at Eden Park, Wellington and Dunedin. France have not won in New Zealand since a famous 27-22 win at the old Carisbrook ground in Dunedin. They may struggle to break the losing streak on this tour against an All Blacks outfit keen to make a statement halfway through the World Cup cycle. Coach Scott Robertson has been at pains to warn his squad to avoid complacency, having tasted defeat in a 30-29 classic at Stade de France last November, the All Blacks' third successive loss to Les Bleus. While he has lost a couple of key soldiers with injuries to prop Taimati Williams and loose forward Wallace Sititi, Robertson will hope 'next-gen' talents can make strides. Cameron Roigard and Cortez Ratima are fighting for the starting scrumhalf slot and one-test Wellington Hurricane Ruben Love is looking to make his mark at fullback. Overall, though, the squad captained by lock Scott Barrett is seasoned and familiar. Only five uncapped players have been given a chance, including Wellington Hurricanes flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi and Waikato Chiefs hooker Brodie McAlister. Playmakers Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie will resume their running battle for the number 10 shirt, with the loser likely to be deployed at fullback. "The biggest thing (for us) is we respect (France) with our preparation and understand those strengths," Robertson said on Monday. "We have been together for a year and our cohesion is high and we trust ourselves."
Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
How Lyon will try to stop ‘magical' Finn Russell in Challenge Cup final
Martin Page-Relo used to be Antoine Dupont's understudy at Toulouse, the same club where Romain Ntamack was his half-back partner in the youth teams from the age of 12 and then his flatmate when the pair broke into the senior ranks. It's safe to say, then, that the Italy scrum half knows a special talent when he sees one, which makes it all the more striking to hear him assert that Finn Russell operates at 'as high a level as anyone I've ever played with or against when it comes to technique, vision and game understanding. The three of them [Russell, Dupont and Ntamack] are exceptionally strong all-round, but Finn is the one with what I would call the magic touch, who can create something
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ntamack anger over 'injustice' of Ringrose ban
Guinness Six Nations 2025: France v ScotlandWhen: Saturday, 15 March 2025 Kick-off: 20:00 GMT Where: Stade de France, ParisCoverage: Listen live on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & BBC Sounds, follow live text coverage on BBC Sport app & website. France fly-half Romain Ntamack says it is "totally incomprehensible" the terms of his suspension following a red card differed to the sanction for Ireland centre Garry returned to action in Les Bleus' 42-27 victory in Dublin last weekend after missing two Six Nations matches following his dismissal in the opening-round win against is available to feature in Ireland's championship finale in Italy on Saturday having sat out only one Test – the defeat against France – as punishment for his dismissal against was permitted to count a Leinster fixture - a game which he was unlikely to have featured in - as part of his ban but Ntamanck was unable to include a match for his club Toulouse in his punishment."There is an injustice here, because I believe our case was also based around how one of the matches in my suspension I would play for Toulouse," the 25-year-old said before Saturday's game against Scotland."And when 10 days later the complete opposite [for Ringrose] is decided in contrast to what the commission told me, that is in every shape and form totally incomprehensible."I think we must start pounding our fist on the table because it is time these decisions going against us and costing us dearly stop." France will win the Six Nations by beating Gregor Townsend's side in Paris even without a bonus point, because their points difference is so vastly superior to second-placed England' is likely to partner Bordeaux scrum-half Maxime Lucu at Stade de France after his club-mate Antoine Dupont sustained serious knee damage against coach Fabien Galthie said there was "anger" in the French camp over the incident, which was not referred to the television match official during the game."I have my opinion on that and I will keep it to myself," Ntamack said of Dupont's injury, which occurred during a ruck clearout involving Ireland's Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter."It is always upsetting when a player is injured in such an incident. It is never very clear in this type of situation."There will be a debate round rucks forever. I think, though, it is imperative that we all sit around a table and clarify it a little."
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ntamack and Penaud return to France team to face Ireland in Six Nations blockbuster
PARIS (AP) — Romain Ntamack returns at flyhalf and Damian Penaud is restored on the right wing for the Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday. Ntamack was red-carded in the opening 43-0 win against Wales after he shoulder-charged the head of opposite Ben Thomas. He missed the agonizing defeat against England and the 11-try dismantling of Italy. He wins his 39th test cap and resumes his halves pairing with superstar captain Antoine Dupont, whose explosive runs and astute passing orchestrated the rout of Italy. Penaud was axed by coach Fabien Galthié from the team to play Italy, paying the price for a rare poor performance against England. Penaud has 37 international tries in 54 tests, and needs just one more try to equal France record-holder Serge Blanco. Saturday's round-four showdown in Dublin will likely decide the fate of the Six Nations title, as their matchups in the previous three years have done. Ireland has won its three games so far and is looking for an unprecedented third straight outright title. ___ AP rugby: The Associated Press
Associated Press
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Ntamack and Penaud return to France team to face Ireland in Six Nations blockbuster
PARIS (AP) — Romain Ntamack returns at flyhalf and Damian Penaud is restored on the right wing for the Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday. Ntamack was red-carded in the opening 43-0 win against Wales after he shoulder-charged the head of opposite Ben Thomas. He missed the agonizing defeat against England and the 11-try dismantling of Italy. He wins his 39th test cap and resumes his halves pairing with superstar captain Antoine Dupont, whose explosive runs and astute passing orchestrated the rout of Italy. Penaud was axed by coach Fabien Galthié from the team to play Italy, paying the price for a rare poor performance against England. Penaud has 37 international tries in 54 tests, and needs just one more try to equal France record-holder Serge Blanco. Saturday's round-four showdown in Dublin will likely decide the fate of the Six Nations title, as their matchups in the previous three years have done. third straight outright title. ___
