France's commanding eight-try demolition of Fiji in Lyon has been overshadowed by the loss of Romain Ntamack to a suspected left shoulder subluxation, leaving Fabien Galthié facing a fly-half crisis six days before the world champions arrive in Paris.
Ntamack departed after 33 minutes during the build-up to France's third try, his first appearance in the number 10 jersey alongside captain Antoine Dupont since March. With Mathieu Jalibert already sidelined through injury, France will face the Springboks next Saturday without either of their established playmakers. The hosts ran in eight tries at the Groupama Stadium, with Dupont delivering a player-of-the-match performance that controlled proceedings throughout. Jean-Baptiste Gros, Sipili Falatea, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Kalvin Gourgues, Théo Attissogbé, Charles Ollivon and Dupont all crossed, alongside a penalty try, as France moved two points clear at the top of the Nations Championship table.
Yet the scoreline masked persistent set-piece fragility that will concern Galthié ahead of the Stade de France showdown. Ntamack's opening kick-off sailed directly into touch, Attissogbé fumbled the first contestable and the hosts dropped four driving mauls in the second half, undermining the same weapon that had earned them a penalty try earlier. Fiji, featuring ten France-based players including their entire backline, managed tries through Vinaya Habosi and Selestino Ravutaumada but slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat in the inaugural competition.
Selection headache deepens
The injury compounds an already challenging week for Galthié, who has described the assignment as "the most difficult challenge this current generation has ever faced." The Springboks have won nine of their last ten encounters with France, including their last four at the Stade de France. South Africa's most recent visit to Paris last year ended in a 32-17 victory despite playing 30 minutes of the second half with 14 men, whilst the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal remains etched in French memory as a one-point defeat that ended their tournament on home soil.
Dupont's return from injury absence provides France with their most influential figure, the scrumhalf having missed last year's defeat to the Springboks. His performance against Fiji showcased the control and attacking spark that makes him arguably the most important player in world rugby. Yet even Dupont's presence may not compensate for the absence of an established playmaker against a South African side that has made the Stade de France their Parisian fortress. France have not beaten the Springboks at their national stadium since 2001.
Galthié must now identify a fly-half solution from his remaining options, with the world champions arriving in Saint-Denis having demonstrated their capacity to win the biggest matches in Paris. The 54-17 scoreline against Fiji suggests attacking potency remains intact, but the set-piece frailties and playmaker crisis present obstacles that will require swift resolution before Saturday's encounter with a side that has made a habit of winning when it matters most in the French capital.