Simon Easterby disappointed with comments around Antoine Dupont injury incident

Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby has expressed disappointment with accusatory comments made by France head coach Fabien Galthie regarding the Antoine Dupont injury incident.

Les Bleus won 42-27 in Dublin last weekend to end Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes and move into pole position for the Guinness Six Nations title.

But the post-match discussion was dominated by the season-ending knee issue suffered by France captain Dupont.

The 28-year-old scrum-half ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament when Ireland forwards Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter cleared out a ruck.

Galthie branded the actions of Beirne and Porter “reprehensible” and reported the pair to the match’s citing commissioner, albeit no retrospective action has been taken.

“Without getting myself into trouble here, I just think it’s the game unfortunately,” said Easterby, whose side are preparing to complete the championship away to Italy on Saturday afternoon.

“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.

“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.”

Dupont – widely regarded as the world’s best player – was attempting to steal the ball in the 28th minute when lock Beirne landed on his right leg as prop Porter joined the ruck.

Easterby said the post-match remarks from the French camp created a situation where “people are getting abuse”.

“It’s just unnecessary and not acceptable,” he said. “It happens, we know it happens, but those things could have been avoided had maybe