PARIS — The French rugby team is welcoming back Matthieu Jalibert as he steps into the flyhalf role for the upcoming match against England at Twickenham this Saturday in the Six Nations tournament. Jalibert’s return comes after a season of ups and downs, having previously made headlines by leaving the squad in mid-November when he was not selected for the match against New Zealand, which disappointed head coach Fabien Galthié.
In a significant shift, Jalibert is stepping in for Romain Ntamack, who will miss the game due to a three-match suspension imposed after he received a red card for a dangerous shoulder tackle on Ben Thomas during last week’s 43-0 victory over Wales. This incident led to immediate consequences for Ntamack, who publicly expressed his regret for his actions, emphasizing that the tackle was unintentional yet hazardous.
Galthié noted the swift actions taken to fill the gap left by Ntamack, underscoring Jalibert’s wealth of experience with over 30 test caps. “After Romain’s red card, we started working with the staff, and Matthieu was our number one choice for the position,” Galthié commented. He reassured Jalibert of his importance to the team, despite the prior disappointment that led to Jalibert’s temporary departure.
In a heartfelt message on social media, Ntamack acknowledged his mistake and vowed to learn from the experience, stressing his commitment to being a positive example. “I apologize to everyone for this gesture, which while unintentional was dangerous,” he shared on Instagram.
Galthié also emphasized the need to foster a collaborative spirit within the squad rather than a power struggle, making sure that tensions do not affect performance. He expressed his desire for players to actively communicate their concerns and perspectives. “You should not create a power struggle and lose a player with such potential,” he stated.
In addition to Jalibert’s return, France sees the re-entry of talented winger Damian Penaud, who has recovered from a toe injury. Penaud replaces Théo Attissogbe and is eager to build on his impressive record, aiming for his 37th international try. He is just two tries away from matching Serge Blanco, the current record-holder.
This match will mark Penaud’s first appearance for the national team since last year’s thrilling 33-31 victory against England in the Six Nations, having missed the autumn series due to a lung infection. Galthié praised Peñaud’s versatility as both a finisher and a defender, highlighting his understanding of the team’s strategies. “Time passes, and it has been more than a year since he last played. He must be hungry, very hungry,” Galthié added.
