Six Nations 2025: Simon Easterby on Fabien Galthie comments

Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby has expressed his disappointment with France head coach Fabien Galthie’s comments regarding the Antoine Dupont injury incident in last week’s Six Nations game.

Les Bleus won 42-27 in Dublin to end Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes, but the France skipper’s serious knee injury dominated post-match discussion.

Dupont was attempting to steal the ball in the 28th minute and was challenged by Tadhg Beirne, who then fell on to the scrum-half’s right leg as Ireland prop Andrew Porter joined the ruck.

Galthie reported Porter and Beirne to the match’s citing commissioner and called their actions in the incident “reprehensible”, but no action has been taken against the Ireland pair.

“Without getting myself into trouble here, I just think it’s the game unfortunately,” said Easterby.

“No player goes out to intentionally injure another player. For everyone, or for the majority of people watching, looking at it afterwards, everyone felt like it was a rugby incident which was really unfortunate.

“No player goes out to injure another player, it just doesn’t happen. Whatever the insinuations were from different people post-game, it’s disappointing because the unfortunate thing is people who don’t really understand the game pick up on it.”