FRANCE ratcheted up the rivalry ahead of their crunch clash against Ireland by writing to World Rugby about Garry Ringrose’s suspension.
The two Six Nations favourites battle it out at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. with Simon Easterby‘s men looking to take a giant step towards another Grand Slam.
They will be doing so without Garry Ringrose, who will be unavailable due to suspension.
The Leinster centre was banned for a head-high tackle in their 27-18 win over Wales, having had an initial yellow card upgraded to a 20-minute red.
His suspension extended to Leinster’s win over Cardiff in the URC last weekend, but he could be available for the Six Nations decider against Italy on St Patrick’s weekend.
That will be subject to Ringrose taking part in World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme.
That has drawn the ire of France Rugby vice-president Jean-Marc Lhermet who compared it with the ban handed down to Romain Ntamack.
The French out-half was sent-off in their opener against Wales, was given a six-week/game – reduced to three-week/game – ban and therefore missed subsequent games against England and Italy.
Speaking to Midi Olympique, Lhermet revealed that France Rugby had contacted World Rugby looking for an explanation.
He said: “Like everyone else, we were very surprised when we learned of the decision of SNRL (Six Nations Rugby Limited) concerning Garry Ringrose, in comparison with the terms of application of the sanction that had been imposed on Romain Ntamack.
“However, the two cases seemed very comparable to us.
“This is why we contacted World Rugby for a request for explanations.
“We need to be enlightened as to what could have motivated such a difference.”
According to Midi-Olympique, Ireland produced a “match planning document for each player”, which outlined that Ringrose was to play for Leinster against Cardiff.
The FFR are said to have done the same, while head coach Fabien Gaelthie had suggested Ntamack would be made available for Toulouse’s Top14 clash with Clermont.
The report claims that Toulouse had confirmed in writing that it would have used the out-half had he been available.
This assertion is said to have been rejected, leading to the club game not being taken into account for the 25-year-old’s ban.
Lhermet added: “What we see, looking back, is that Garry Ringrose never played for his province in these matches during the Six Nations Tournament.
“With the information at our disposal, nothing suggests that this would have been the case this time.
“That is why we have made a request for explanations.”
The Irish Sun has contacted World Rugby for comment.