France's flyhalf Romain Ntamack is buzzing with excitement ahead of the clash with the Springboks in Paris this Saturday. Having been benched by an injury during the 2023 World Cup, Ntamack is eager to lace up and face the very team that dashed France's hopes in a nail-biter quarter-final at the Stade de France, where the Boks eked out a 29-28 victory.
Ntamack, who watched from the sidelines with a knee injury, shared that the bitter taste of that defeat still haunts the French squad.
"I wasn’t part of that World Cup quarter-final squad, but the trauma affected more than just the 23 players on the team sheet,"
he disclosed to RugbyRama. With the past behind them, the focus now shifts to the upcoming game.
The upcoming match is loaded with emotions, yet Ntamack emphasizes the bigger picture for the French team.
"This match is important because we are playing the two-time world champions,"
he remarked, underscoring the significance of the game not just as a solitary event but as a precursor to the autumn series against Fiji and the Wallabies, and a stepping stone towards the next World Cup.
After grappling with injuries post-World Cup, the 26-year-old is relishing his return to form, feeling rejuvenated and ready. "I feel light, happy. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to start a November tour at 100% of my physical capacity," Ntamack expressed, adding that each day on the field is a delight, making him feel like he's donning the national jersey for the first time all over again.
As the French team prepares for their showdown with the Springboks, the mix of seasoned determination and youthful enthusiasm could be just the right blend to rewrite the narratives of past encounters. With Ntamack back at the helm, fully fit and fired up, France is looking to not just compete, but to reclaim a sense of national rugby pride.
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France's flyhalf Romain Ntamack is buzzing with excitement ahead of the clash with the Springboks in Paris this Saturday. Having been benched by an injury during the 2023 World Cup, Ntamack is eager to lace up and face the very team that dashed France's hopes in a nail-biter quarter-final at the Stade de France, where the Boks eked out a 29-28 victory.
Ntamack, who watched from the sidelines with a knee injury, shared that the bitter taste of that defeat still haunts the French squad.
"I wasn’t part of that World Cup quarter-final squad, but the trauma affected more than just the 23 players on the team sheet,"
he disclosed to RugbyRama. With the past behind them, the focus now shifts to the upcoming game.The upcoming match is loaded with emotions, yet Ntamack emphasizes the bigger picture for the French team.
"This match is important because we are playing the two-time world champions,"
he remarked, underscoring the significance of the game not just as a solitary event but as a precursor to the autumn series against Fiji and the Wallabies, and a stepping stone towards the next World Cup.After grappling with injuries post-World Cup, the 26-year-old is relishing his return to form, feeling rejuvenated and ready. "I feel light, happy. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to start a November tour at 100% of my physical capacity," Ntamack expressed, adding that each day on the field is a delight, making him feel like he's donning the national jersey for the first time all over again.
As the French team prepares for their showdown with the Springboks, the mix of seasoned determination and youthful enthusiasm could be just the right blend to rewrite the narratives of past encounters. With Ntamack back at the helm, fully fit and fired up, France is looking to not just compete, but to reclaim a sense of national rugby pride.