mens
nations-championship
France opened their November Nations Championship campaign with a strong 54-17 win over Fiji in Lyon, but the sight of Romain Ntamack leaving the pitch injured threatened to overshadow an otherwise dominant night for Fabien Galthie’s side.
The match marked the first time Toulouse teammates Antoine Dupont and Ntamack started together for Les Bleus in 20 months, but their reunion lasted just 32 minutes before disaster struck.
Ntamack landed hard on his shoulder during the crash and immediately looked in serious discomfort. The fly-half left the field with an arm brace, sparking fears of a dislocated shoulder. If those concerns are confirmed, the 27-year-old could face four to six months on the sidelines, a potentially devastating blow that could rule him out of the Guinness Six Nations.
France already had firm control at that stage.
Jean-Baptiste Gros went down after 14 minutes before a penalty try extended the hosts’ lead. Fiji got into the game through a Simione Kuruvoli penalty in the 24th minute, but tries from Sipilio Falatea and Aaron Grandidier-Nkangan helped France establish a commanding 26-3 lead at half-time.
Any hope Jake White had of a second-half revival in his first match as the Fiji head coach quickly vanished.
France continued to push forward after the break and Kalvin Gourgues crossed on the hour mark before Theo Attissogbe added another three minutes later after a strong French attack on the edge started by Dupont.
Fiji finally found a way to the try line through Vinay Habosi in the 66th minute and briefly reduced the deficit further when Celestino Ravutaumada crossed with five minutes remaining.
But France finished strong. Veteran back-rower Charles Ollivon scored in the 72nd minute after a lineout move before Man of the Match captain Dupont provided the perfect finish, racing over two minutes at times to cap off an impressive all-round display.
Maxime Lucu added the conversion for a complete 54-17 victory.
“We don’t have any news right now,” Dupont said of Ntamack’s injury. “But I think it’s pretty bad.”
France: 15 Théo Attissogbe, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 François Cros, 7 François Micka Wode, 7 Paul Boude 5 Guillard, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Sipili Falatea, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Jefferson Poirot, 18 Régis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Émilien Gailleton.
Fiji: 15 Charles Rayasi, 14 Celestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Vinaya Habosi, 11 Judah Wainiqolo, 10 Vilimon Botitu, 9 Simeon Kuruvoli, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Gideon Salawa, 6 Peter-Gus-Gus-Gus4i, David, 2012, 2010 (captain), 1 Aaron left.
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Inoke Ratuwawasa, 19 Peceli Yato, 20 Elia Canakaivata, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Sireli Maqala.