Ireland prop Andrew Porter has dismissed claims that he was involved in foul play that led to Antoine Dupont’s serious knee injury in France’s Six Nations win in Dublin on Saturday.

France coach Fabien Galthie described the actions of Tadhg Beirne and Porter in the incident which led to Dupont’s season-ending injury as “reprehensible” although they both avoided any sanction during the game.

Galthie reported the Ireland duo to the match’s citing commissioner but no action has been taken against them.

Dupont was attempting to steal the ball in the 28th minute and was challenged by Beirne, who then fell on to the scrum-half’s right leg as Irish prop Porter joined the ruck.

Porter insisted that he hadn’t committed any foul play, adding that he had sent a well-wishing message on Instagram to the France captain.

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

“I knew what I did. I didn’t go out to try to injure anyone. That’s not the type of player I am.”

Porter added that the France head coach “calling for your head……it’s a bit much”.

“He’s such a pivotal player for them that they nearly don’t want him to be touched at all.

“He [Galthie] is entitled to his opinion but I know I haven’t done anything wrong there. I sleep well at night.”

The Ireland prop attempted to draw parallels with the career-ending injury suffered by Ireland back row Dan Leavy in 2019.

Like Leavy, Dupont’s knee was caught among collapsing bodies during a Leinster game against Ulster but Porter insisted that nobody was to blame.

“It [Saturday’s incident] was a rugby incident. I can barely remember exactly what it is. I think it was in a ruck, his leg got trapped in between a ruck, when he was trying to counter it and he obviously just got trapped and went over .. but that’s rugby, that happens.

“I don’t think anyone was calling for anyone to cite when Dan Leavy did his knee a few years ago, which resulted in him having to finish his career early.”

Porter added that Ireland, following the hammering by France, are now determined to perform as they know they can in their concluding Six Nations game against Italy.

The championship is now out of Ireland’s hands as they must beat Italy in Rome and hope that the results of the games which follow on Saturday go their way to clinch a record third successive Six Nations title.

Second-placed England are away to Wales while leaders France have their destiny in their own hands as they face Scotland in Paris in the final match of this year’s tournament.

“We can sit around and sulk all we like but we have another job to do next Saturday. If anything it has emboldened us to go out and put out the rugby we know we can play,” he said.

“We’ve got Italy on their home patch, an incredibly proud team. We’ll go out there to do what we know we can do and put out a performance we can be proud of as players.”

Related topics