PARIS (AP) — The latest addition to the French rugby squad, flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert, has been welcomed back with open arms by the team management while the departing flyhalf, Romain Ntamack, has taken responsibility for his red-card tackle.
Jalibert is set to make a significant impact for France in their upcoming match against England at Twickenham on Saturday in the Six Nations. This marks his first test appearance since leaving the squad amidst controversy in mid-November after not being selected for the match against New Zealand. He steps in to replace the suspended Ntamack and will earn his 35th test cap, partnering with the exceptional scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.
Ntamack faced a setback in the 43-0 victory over Wales last Friday when he was shown a red card for a dangerous shoulder charge on Ben Thomas. As a result, a three-game suspension was handed down on Wednesday, ruling Ntamack out of only the England clash in the Six Nations. Taking to social media, Ntamack expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging the danger posed by his unintentional gesture and emphasizing his commitment to setting a positive example.
During the period when Jalibert was left out of the French lineup in their fixture against New Zealand, he opted to depart from the team and return to his club. Coach Fabien Galthié revealed in an interview with RMC last month that he allowed Jalibert to take some time away but the issue was subsequently resolved through discussions. Galthié reassured the young flyhalf, who is earmarked for the 2023 World Cup, of his importance within the squad and the need for open communication among players.
France’s lineup change also includes the return of star winger Damian Penaud, who has recovered from a toe injury. Penaud, poised to add to his impressive tally of 36 international tries, steps in for Théo Attissogbe. The winger, who is just two tries shy of matching the record set by Serge Blanco, is gearing up for his first appearance for Les Tricolores since the thrilling 33-31 victory over England in last year’s Six Nations. His absence during the autumn series was due to a lung infection.
___AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
