Ireland prop Porter denies wrongdoing after Dupont Six Nations injury / Photo: © AFP/File
Ireland prop Porter denies wrongdoing after Dupont Six Nations injury
Ireland prop Andrew Porter has defended himself against accusations of foul play after Antoine Dupont suffered a season-ending knee injury during France's Six Nations win in Dublin on Saturday.
French captain Dupont, widely regarded as the world's best player, ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in the 42-27 win, which put Fabien Galthie's men firmly on course for title.
France were furious with the incident that 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 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.
"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 after half an hour of Saturday's match after Beirne, who appeared to have been pushed by Porter, fell on his right leg, causing it to buckle.
France's anger fuelled a breathtaking second-half display as they turned round a slim 8-6 lead at half-time into an emphatic win, dashing Ireland's hopes of a second Grand Slam in three years.
"His leg got trapped in between a ruck when he was trying to counter it and he obviously just got trapped and went over, " Porter said
"It happens so much in this sport. There was no malicious intent surrounding it at all. It's obviously unfortunate and unlucky."
Ireland still have a slim chance to win the Six Nations -- which would be an unprecedented third successive title -- but they would need an unlikely set of results in the final round of games.
Porter said it was tough to move on from the France defeat.
"If anything, it's emboldened us to go out and produce the rugby we can play," he said.
"We're not out of the competition completely yet. It's everything to play for. We get to go out and play this weekend and right a few wrongs."
W.Phillips--TNT
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