A Six Nations citing commissioner has dismissed France's complaints over the role of Irish players in Antoine Dupont's horror injury.
The world's best player suffered a serious knee injury after Ireland second row Tadhg Beirne fell on his leg at a ruck in the 29th minute. Referee Angus Gardner deemed it a rugby incident, but France coach Fabien Galthie described the actions of Beirne and Andrew Porter as "reprehensible" as the French filed an official complaint.
However, it has now been revealed neither player will face punishment after the citing commissioner upheld the referee's decision the incident was accidental.
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Speaking after the game, France’s head coach Fabien Galthié said the actions of Beirne and Porter, who appeared to push his team-mate, in the clear-out were “reprehensible”.
The visitors also cited Calvin Nash, who was shown a yellow card on 47 minutes for a head-on-head collision with Pierre-Louis Barassi. The French centre went off for a HIA after the collision and did not return to the game. That complaint has also been dismissed.
“We are angry. We want to protect our players,” Galthié said at the post-match press conference. “There are means, [there are] rules. The [citing] commissioner must study the actions that are reprehensible or not. Neither Antoine nor Pierre-Louis returned to the pitch. One for a cleaning, the other for a contact.”
He added: “We feel bad for [Antoine]. In terms of the action, in my opinion it was reprehensible, and there are ways to study and analyse it. We feel for him today. He is suffering and we are suffering with him.”
Dupont confirmed on Sunday he had ruptured his cruciate ligaments, saying: "The heart hurts even more than the knee when you have to leave your friends before the last step," Dupont posted on Instagram. "I am proud of what we accomplished yesterday and with all my strength with you, you will do it.
"Rupture of the cruciate ligaments. This is the beginning of a new challenge, I'll see you in a few months on the field."
Dupont was visibly upset when he limped from the field after Beirne, who appeared to be pushed by team-mate Porter, fell on his right leg during a ruck clearout, causing it to buckle.
According to team-mates, the scrum-half was in tears in the dressing room. Speaking after the match, Gregory Alldritt said: "When I return to the dressing room and I see one of my best friends looking like that, it tears up one's insides.
"It is difficult to talk about. However, it added a bit of fire to our bellies for the second half."
