Just Now: Six Nations star accused of revenge mission following ‘deplorable’ incident
Romain Ntamack was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Wales’ Ben Thomas during France’s opening night victory in the Six Nations for a challenge he didn’t need to make
Romain Ntamack has been accused of going into business for himself with his “revenge mission” on Wales’ Ben Thomas.
France’s near-perfect performance in the Six Nations opener in Paris on Friday night as they thrashed Wales was marred by a tackle that could have significant repercussions. Ntamack, making his first international appearance since 2023, shone at fly-half alongside the exceptional Antoine Dupont
until the 70th minute tackle that saw him dismissed.
The Stade de France crowd saw replays confirming the dangerous nature of the tackle, leading referee Paul Williams to issue a yellow card, which was then escalated to a red by the Foul Play Review Officer using the bunker system.
Ntamack looked distraught on the bench as the game concluded, now faces a potential ban.
Former Wales and British and Irish Lions skipper Sam Warburton slammed Ntamack for showing a “complete lack of composure” as he smashed Thomas – having been on the receiving end of an earlier, legal tackle, from the Welsh half-back, after an earlier tackle left Ntamack floored by the Welsh half-back’s legal hit.
Sharing his insights on BBC Sport, Warburton said: “That lack of emotional control has really cost France for their title or potential Grand Slam chances.”
Post-match, France’s head coach Fabien Galthié admitted afterwards that he is already planning to be without Ntamack next week: “Our role will indeed be to find solutions in a particular context, in case he is suspended for Saturday.”
Yet, Galthié did seem to take a softer stance when discussing Ntamack’s action, observing: “Afterwards, what we feel when we see the images is that he is surprised by the change of direction of the opposing number 10. He thinks he is going to go to the left, and he chases with his foot. I have the feeling that Romain does not engage in the collision. It is more a fact of play that surprises him.
“But there is contact to the head, we agree with the sanction. Afterwards, we will have arguments to defend him. He is a player who has a clean record, and it is an action that is not like him.”
Ntamack will learn this week if he faces a ban and, if so, its duration.
