After receiving a red card in the encounter against Ireland, lock Paul Willemse will miss four weeks of action. So, it will be a major blow to France’s Six Nations campaign. The forthcoming matches against Scotland and Italy will feel the impact of Willemse’s absence, raising concerns about the team’s capacity to adjust to the loss of a vital member.
Paul Willemse’s two-game ban challenges France in Six Nations
After an altercation with Ireland’s Andrew Porter in the ninth minute, Willemse was first shown a yellow card. In the 32nd minute, Caelan Doris was the victim of a high tackle, which led to the next red card.
France is already dealing with injuries to locks Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou, and Romain Taofifenua. The suspension comes at a difficult moment for the country.
Fabien Galthie, the head coach, needs to come up with a plan to get over Willemse’s absence. Willemse is expected back for the encounter against Wales on March 10.
Because of the careless nature of his high tackles, the disciplinary committee took into account mitigating circumstances and imposed a lighter punishment. The independent disciplinary committee stated, “Mitigating factors were applied by the Committee reducing the six-week entry point by two weeks, resulting in a sanction of four weeks for this offence.”
It is noteworthy that the committee was forgiving to Willemse, highlighting the lack of malice in his deeds. It is impossible to overstate the effect on the team’s hopes for the Six Nations, though.
