RUGBY XV – In a long interview for L'Équipe, Romain Ntamack notably mentioned the competition with Matthieu Jalibert in the French team.
Injured in mid-October, Romain Ntamack resumed competition a month and a half later with his club, but he had to withdraw from the autumn tour with the XV of France. During his absence, Fabien Galthié preferred to align Thomas Ramos upon opening despite the presence of Matthieu Jalibert in the group.
While this choice fueled the debates in November during the tour of Blues, Romain Ntamack has been asked about his competition with the Bordeaux fly-half for several seasons now. The Toulouse number 10 explained:
I have a feeling this debate will be endless. I repeat, I have never claimed anything. The staff made their choices. I have always responded and carried out the necessary services for the staff to maintain their trust in me. I haven't been here for a year and a half and logic would have dictated that he would take over. He had the opportunity to do it. It's not up to me to judge his performances. If the staff preferred Thomas (Ramos) in the last matches, I have nothing to do with it. It's a shame that the debate is still centered on Ntamack-Jalibert when, during the November Tour, Thomas was very good and became number 1 in the position.
As a reminder, Matthieu Jalibert had finally left the gathering of XV of France before the match against the New Zealand although he had been planned as a reservist. In a few weeks, Fabien Galthié will have to settle this debate again but a priori Romain Ntamack widely favorite, and should wear number 10 against Wales.
