Romain Ntamack’s assured withdrawal for the first match of the autumn tour against Japan raises the question of his replacement at number ten. His teammate at Stade Toulousain Thomas Ramos would be the favorite on the starting line to replace him, ahead of Matthieu Jalibert
It was almost written. Fifteen months after being seen for the last time in the blue jersey, and the serious knee injury of Romain Ntamack, on August 12, 2023 against Scotland in Saint-Étienne in a friendly, the Dupont-Ntamack hinge could sign his return . A potential 28th association of this duo with the XV of France (which already holds the absolute record for pivotal matches in the history of the Blues), finally postponed. This Saturday, Romain Ntamack tore his calf with Stade Toulousain against Clermont.
His absence, estimated at three to four weeks off, will certainly deprive him of the first meeting of the Blues of this autumn tour, against Japan (Saturday November 9 at 9:10 p.m. at the Stade de France). Hope remains as to his participation in the other two tests (New Zealand and Argentina), but again, nothing is certain. Without the Toulouse player, coach Fabien Galthié and his staff must therefore look at their famous “ranking”, this hierarchy of players by position, to determine who will lead the Blues’ attack.
Ramos, the experience of major events
And the choice would fall for the moment on Thomas Ramos. Very often used in clubs in this position, including during major meetings (such as in the final of the 2021 edition of the Top 14), the Toulouse fullback (29 years old, 36 caps, 337 points) has not played there only twice as a starter with the XV of France. It was quite simply during the Six Nations Tournament, last March, after Matthieu Jalibert’s injury against Italy in Lille. And he had carried the Blues to victory, in Wales and especially against England in Lyon, with the winning penalty registered in the 78th minute (33-31).
He is therefore today one step ahead of his Bordeaux friend Matthieu Jalibert in this position, considering the Parisian Léo Barré starting at the back. In Galthié’s mind, Ramos has experience of major events and, for this so-called “premium” team, time stood still at the end of the Tournament.
Since the start of his first mandate and to go against an era of lean cows, the coach is not the type to perpetually turn everything upside down and at the start of the season, the hierarchy was clear to him, which even threatened the presence of Jalibert in a group of 23.
Thunderous start to the season for Jalibert
Ntamack injured, the Bordeaux player therefore has a chance to take part in the Blues’ matches, but will have to work hard to hope to be a starter. He has had a thunderous start to the season with his club, which continues to underline his seriousness. Not to mention the catastrophic departure from Stade Français and the last difficult performances of Léo Barré, like in Lyon this Sunday evening where the international full-back (4 caps) was guilty of two screaming forwards on two kick receptions.
What would change Galthié’s current plans? To be checked from Sunday October 27, the date on which the Blues will gather in Marcoussis to prepare for the tour.
