As feared since Sunday evening, Anthony Jelonch will not play in the Six Nations Tournament. The third row of Stade Toulouse and the Blues suffers from a sprained right knee contracted during the Champions Cup match against Bath (31-19). “He felt his knee twist,” declared Rouge et Noir manager Ugo Mola, not auguring well.
The bad feeling was confirmed since Anthony Jelonch, already the victim of a serious left knee injury last year, was replaced by his club partner Alexandre Roumat in the group of 34 players called to prepare for the first match of the XV of France in the Six Nations Tournament against Ireland, Friday February 2 (9 p.m.), in Marseille.
“Anthony called me last night (Sunday), after his MRI, to explain to me that he had a ruptured anterior cruciate in his right knee. We all know the protocol and the length of unavailability for this type of injury. We really wish him a lot of courage, we will miss him,” coach Fabien Galthié explained on Monday.
Alexandre Roumat, son of former international second row Olivier Roumat, has been playing in Toulouse since 2022 after a long stint at Bordeaux-Bègles. He is capable of playing in the third wing line or in the number 8 position. Aged 26, this touchline specialist has not yet made any selections for the French team.
Emmanuel Meafou withdraws from Ireland
The absence of Anthony Jelonch, who is one of the leaders of the France group, is a hard blow for coach Fabien Galthié and his staff, already deprived for this Six Nations Tournament of scrum half and captain Antoine Dupont, who decided to devote himself to rugby sevens with a view to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the flyhalf Romain Ntamack, still recovering after his knee operation before the last World Cup, or the second row Thibaud Flament, forfeited the start of the competition due to a toe injury.
Moreover, as revealed by L’Équipe, Toulouse second row Emmanuel Meafou is also out. His replacement will be announced later, said the management of the XV of France. The imposing second row of Australian origin (2.03 m, 145 kg), who is now selectable for the Blues, was expected to be a very likely starter against Ireland. The duration of his absence has not been communicated and his medical monitoring is provided by Stade Toulouse, said the Blues staff.
“It would be a grade 2 knee sprain, externally. And that means a more or less long package, I cannot tell you the duration of the unavailability but it is an immediate absence,” Galthié clarified.
