Romain Ntamack injury mars France victory over Fiji

France opened their November Nations Championship campaign with an emphatic 54-17 victory over Fiji in Lyon, but the sight of Romain Ntamack leaving the field injured threatened to overshadow an otherwise dominant night for Fabien Galthie’s side.

The match marked the first time Toulouse team-mates Antoine Dupont and Ntamack had started together for Les Bleus in 20 months, but their reunion lasted just 32 minutes before disaster struck.

Ntamack landed heavily on his shoulder during a collision and immediately looked in serious discomfort. The fly-half left the field with his arm supported, raising fears of a shoulder dislocation. Should those concerns be confirmed, the 27-year-old could face four to six months on the sidelines, a potentially devastating blow that may rule him out of the Guinness Six Nations.

France were already firmly in control by that stage.

Jean-Baptiste Gros crashed over after 14 minutes before a penalty try extended the hosts’ lead. Fiji got on the board through a Simione Kuruvoli penalty on 24 minutes, but tries from Sipili Falatea and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang helped France establish a commanding 26-3 halftime advantage.

Any hopes Jake White had of a second-half revival in his first match as Fiji head coach quickly evaporated.

France continued to pour forward after the break, with Kalvin Gourgues crossing on the hour mark before Theo Attissogbe added another three minutes later after a sweeping French edge attack started by Dupont.

Fiji finally found their way to the try line through Vinaya Habosi in the 66th minute and briefly reduced the deficit further when Selestino Ravutaumada crossed with five minutes remaining.

But France finished strongly. Veteran back-rower Charles Ollivon scored in the 72nd minute off a lineout move before captain Man of the Match Dupont provided the perfect finishing touch, darting over two minutes from time to cap an impressive all-round display.

Maxime Lucu added the conversion to complete a comprehensive 54-17 victory.

“We don’t have any news at the moment,” said Dupont of Ntamack’s injury. “But I think it’s pretty bad.”

France: 15 Théo Attissogbe, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 François Cros, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Cameron Woki, 5 Mickaël Guillard, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Sipili Falatea, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.

Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Jefferson Poirot, 18 Régis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Émilien Gailleton.

Fiji: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Vinaya Habosi, 11 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 10 Vilimoni Botitu, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 1 Eroni Mawi.

Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Inoke Ratuwawasa, 19 Peceli Yato, 20 Elia Canakaivata, 21 Frank Lomani, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Sireli Maqala.