'No malicious intent': Andrew Porter denies wrongdoing in Antoine Dupont incident

Ireland prop Andrew Porter insisted “I haven’t done anything wrong” as he hit back at France head coach Fabien Galthie amid the fallout over Antoine Dupont’s season-ending knee injury.

Les Bleus captain Dupont – widely regarded as the world’s best player – faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament during his country’s 42-27 Guinness Six Nations win in Dublin.

France were furious with the incident which caused the injury, with Galthie branding it “reprehensible” as he announced his intention to refer Ireland pair Porter and Tadhg Beirne to the citing commissioner for possible retrospective punishment.

Leinster loosehead Porter, who – in addition to team-mate Beirne – is free to feature in Saturday’s round-five fixture away to Italy, said he had “no malicious intent”.

“He can say what he wants, see how far it gets him,” Porter said of Galthie.

“No, I wasn’t disappointed (with being cited). I knew what I did; I didn’t go out to try and injure anyone. That’s not the type of player I am. If he (Galthie) wants to think that, that’s up to him.

“I even sent Antoine a message on Instagram just to see how he was and obviously you never want to see anyone going off the pitch like that.

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“If you have the head coach calling for your head, it’s a bit much to be fair.

“But he’s such a pivotal player for them that they nearly don’t want him to be touched at all. Look, he’s entitled to his opinion but I know I haven’t done anything wrong there. I sleep well at night.”

Dupont was visibly upset when he limped from the field in the 29th minute of Saturday’s match after Beirne, who appeared to be pushed by Porter, fell on his right leg, causing it to buckle.

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