1
Romain Ntamack poised to make return from World Cup-ending injury
France fly-half Romain Ntamack is set to make his return this weekend from the ACL injury that ruled him out of the World Cup last year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Toulouse host Pau on Saturday in the Top 14, and various French outlets have reported the response from both defence coach Laurent Thuéry and his colleague Clement Poitrenaud when asked about the 24-year-old’s return.
Saturday will be the first time the fly-half pulls on a Toulouse jersey since the Top 14 final against La Rochelle last year, where he produced a sensational solo try to win the match.
“Romain Ntamack will be in the group this weekend for the reception of the Paloise Section,” Thuéry said, as reported by French outlet Sud Radio Rugby (translated by Google).
“All signals are green. Honestly, he is very good, he sends very positive signals. It was a problem-free rehabilitation.”
Ntamack picked up the injury in a World Cup warm-up match against Scotland just weeks before a home World Cup. He has had to sit on the sidelines as Les Bleus crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals, followed by a patchy Guinness Six Nations this year.
Though he is unlikely to feature for an extensive stretch of time against Pau at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, he will help ease the injury burden in the Toulouse back line at the moment with Thomas Ramos and Ange Capuozzo both unavailable.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ntamack will be able to reform his iconic partnership with scrum-half Antoine Dupont as well, who returned last week to the 15-player format after a hugely successful dalliance in sevens as he prepares for the Paris Olympic Games.
It may be a while away before Ntamack makes his first start for Toulouse, but he is likely to have a say in the rest of their season, with Racing 92 visiting next weekend in the round of 16 in the Investec Champions Cup.
Toulouse are currently in second place in the Top 14, only three points behind leaders Stade Francais with seven games remaining in the regular season.
