Laurent Thuéry did not keep the suspense going this Thursday at a press conference. Questioned two days before the reception of Pau in the Top 14, the defense coach of Stade Toulousain confirmed it: “Romain Ntamack will be in the group this weekend. » Not a surprise, since this match had been targeted by the staff of the French champion and the 24-year-old flyhalf, when the latter resumed collective training at the beginning of the month.
Ntamack has not played for a club since the last Top 14 final, won against La Rochelle (29-26) on June 17 at the Stade de France. He then turned around a very poorly started match thanks to a brilliant try two minutes from the end.
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The international fly-half then missed the meeting of a lifetime, the World Cup at home, due to a rupture of the cruciate ligament in his left knee during the preparation match won against Scotland (30-27). ), on August 12 in Saint-Etienne. We still remember the moist eyes of coach Fabien Galthié when announcing the withdrawal of his favorite number 10…
“It sends very positive signals,” says Laurent Thuéry today. The first minutes will quickly clear his head and we will quickly find the Roman we all know. »
“Not worried about him”
We should probably not expect to immediately see Ntamack as both a manager and a talented attacker from before the Crusaders. But former opener Christophe Lamaison is not worried. “It’s not a trivial injury, there is still a surgical intervention,” notes the hero of the unforgettable semi-final of the 1999 World Cup against the All Blacks (43-31). But quite a few athletes experience these painful moments. Romain had to do things in order, we can consider him to be 100% capable. »
Toulouse winger Lucas Tauzin, who works with him on a daily basis, confirms: “It was a hard blow but he quickly moved on. He’s coming back in pretty good shape [sourire]. I’m not worried about him. »
Son of a champion (Émile Ntamack), the older brother of Théo, 3rd line of the Rouge et Noir, is in any case not the type to think or mince his words. His interview at the end of December in Midi Olympique had made some jaws clench when he said: “Clearly, if [les Bleus] had been world champions, it would have been the best day of French rugby but perhaps one of the worst of my life. » For quite a few observers, an international should not say that publicly, even if he thinks so…
Speaking of the Blues, the future father should not find them in July during the tour in Argentina, if Toulouse plays the Top 14 final, but rather in November against Japan, New Zealand and the Argentine Pumas.
When will we return to Blue?
Lamaison insists on the now important pool for this position (Jalibert, Ramos, the young Rochelais Reus) while, due to lack of reserves, “at one time we took Camille Lopez or Camille Lopez”, jokes the ex-international. “Romain has incredible credit with the staff and supporters,” adds “Titou”. What is valid for the management of the Blues is also of course for that of Stade Toulousain. “Romain goes through the ordeals with an ease that can seem disconcerting and it is certain that he has emerged strengthened”, testifies the three-quarter coach Clément Poitrenaud dance Rugbyrama.
This Saturday against Pau, eight days before the Champions Cup round of 16 against Racing 92, the Ernest-Wallon public should see the Romain Ntamack – Antoine Dupont pair again, as indisputable in club as in Blue. Finally, when the first is not injured and the second does not dream of Olympic gold in rugby sevens.
