France fly-half Romain Ntamack has been dominated out of a house Rugby World Cup due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

France, who’re internet hosting the World Cup, play New Zealand within the opening sport on 8 September at Stade de France.

Bordeaux Begles’ Matthieu Jalibert will probably substitute Ntamack as France’s beginning fly-half.

Ntamack limped off the sector within the second half in opposition to Scotland and underwent a scan on his knee on Monday.

The 24-year-old was broadly regarded to be one of many stars of this yr’s World Cup, having scored a match-winning solo attempt in opposition to La Rochelle to assist his membership facet Toulouse win the Prime 14 title.

He’s France’s primary fly-half and featured in each minute of the facet’s 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam victory.

“It’s completely devastating, particularly if you find yourself one of many residence gamers, you might have the chance to play at residence and you might be one of many favourites to win it,” former England worldwide Ugo Moyne instructed the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

Ntamack additionally featured for France on the 2019 World Cup, the place they reached the quarter-finals earlier than dropping to Wales.

He posted a message on Monday stating “I will be again” following the information.

His father Emile, who performed on the 1995 and 1999 World Cups, stated he’s “not anxious” about his son’s comeback, however admitted enjoying at a house World Cup is “very uncommon”.

“It can take some time to digest,” he instructed AFP. “We’re nonetheless a little bit in shock, even when he felt it coming since his harm.

“We had been hoping for a nice shock this morning (Monday) however we weren’t below too many illusions. It did not really feel proper. He had already taken blows to the knee and he felt it wasn’t as typical.”

French Sports activities Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera posted on Twitter that the nationwide facet would miss Ntamack’s “aptitude”.

“There isn’t any doubt you will be shut by and that this dream belongs to you as effectively,” she wrote.

France can even initially be with out loose-head prop Cyril Baille, who will miss as much as six weeks with a calf harm.