In a blow to the French national rugby team, head coach Fabien Galthie announced on Monday that flanker Anthony Jelonch will miss the upcoming Six Nations tournament due to a serious knee injury. The 27-year-old Toulouse player suffered a ruptured knee ligament during his team's Champions Cup win over Bath on Sunday.
Galthie expressed his disappointment at Jelonch's absence, stating that the team will miss him. The former France captain also wished Jelonch the best in his recovery. Jelonch had previously overcome a similar injury in his other knee to compete in last year's Rugby World Cup, where he captained France in the absence of scrum-half Antoine Dupont.
Jelonch was expected to feature in France's Six Nations opener against Ireland on February 2 in Marseille. However, his injury has forced Galthie to find a replacement, and he has chosen Jelonch's Toulouse teammate, 26-year-old Alexandre Roumat, who is yet to earn a cap for the national team. Roumat is the son of former French forward Olivier Roumat.
Unfortunately, Jelonch was not the only Toulouse player to suffer an injury setback. Lock Emmanuel Meafou, who was expected to make his Test debut against Ireland, has also been ruled out of the game. The 25-year-old, who was born in New Zealand but qualifies for France through residency, sustained a grade two knee sprain during the same match against Bath.
Galthie confirmed the news, stating that Meafou will be sidelined for a significant period of time, although the exact duration of his absence is yet to be determined. Meafou had trained with the French national team last year and had impressed with his performances for Toulouse since joining the club in 2018.
The absence of Jelonch and Meafou will pose a challenge for Galthie, who now needs to find suitable replacements for the upcoming match against Ireland. The coach has several options to consider, including Cameron Woki, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Gabrillagues, and Matthias Halagahu.
In addition to the injury setbacks, France will also have to do without star scrum-half Antoine Dupont for the Six Nations. Dupont will be training with France's seven-a-side squad in preparation for the Paris Olympics this summer.
Despite these setbacks, France remains a strong contender in the Six Nations tournament. Galthie will need to rally his team and make strategic decisions to ensure their success in the upcoming matches. The French team will announce their lineup to face Ireland on January 31, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the outcome.
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