The image is terrible!
Lying on the synthetic lawn of the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine), Virimi Vakatawa writhes in pain.
A few moments before, the international three-quarter center of Racing was injured during a tackle, however trivial, of a Bordeaux player.
After being treated for several minutes by the medical staff of Racing 92, Vakatawa wanted to resume the game.
But upon his return to the field, he signaled to the management of the Ile-de-France club that he could not continue.
The pain was too much.
He had to resolve to leave his partners after only ten minutes of play. He was replaced by Simon Zebo during this shock of the 19th day of Top 14 finally lost by Racing (32-33).
(video) Virimi Vakatawa's worrying injury against UBB https://t.co/5kr1nFAJdb # Top14 # Racing92 pic.twitter.com/WnGDF6Gps0
- Rugby'O'Top (@rugbyotop) January 23, 2021
In the Ciel et Blanc locker room, his teammate Teddy Thomas took care of him and put an ice pack on his left knee.
The club has not yet commented on the severity of the injury.
The powerful player of Fijian origin would suffer, at best, from a slight sprained knee but those around them feared a more serious injury.
The medical exams that the player will undergo on Monday January 25 will give more information about his unavailability.
Bad news for the XV of France
This injury is in any case very bad news for the Ile-de-France club and the French team.
At 28, Vakatawa is an indisputable holder among the Blues of Fabien Galthié.
He was to join the selection at the start of the week in Nice to prepare for the next 6 Nations tournament.
The first meeting of the XV of France is scheduled against Italy on February 6.
But the health crisis could ultimately disrupt the holding of the event.
Racing 92 proposed as plan B to transform its arena into a “health bubble” in order to organize the tournament.
The start of 2021 looks like a nightmare for Vakatawa.
Last week, the Racingman was illustrated by a huge blunder.
While he only had to flatten in the in-goal, he was stolen the ball by the Toulon winger, Gabin Villière.