Two-game ban rules Willemse out of decider

FRANCE lock Paul Willemse has been banned for two games after his red card against Wales.

The Frenchman was sent off in Paris last weekend after he made contact with the eye of Welsh prop Wyn Jones, a moment which looked to have been the turning point in the game.

However, some late ill-discipline from Wales themselves handed the hosts back the initiative and Brice Dulin’s try in added time sealed the 32-30 win for France, crushing dreams of a Welsh Grand Slam in the process.

Willemse’s red card, however, prompted some outrageous accusations from France coach Fabien Galthie, who said Wales’s players “specialised” in getting players sent off.

“I don’t think he deserves a heavy sanction,” Gathie said of Willemse in his post-match press conference. “If you watch it there is clearly no contact, or if there is it’s clearly very limited. It’s absolutely not voluntary.

“You see the way the Welsh are specialists in red cards, and can specialise in opposition red cards.

“They play their part. The Welsh body language. I hope the officials decide that this sanction is not necessary for Paul Willemse.”

Ken Owens hit back at Galthie’s claims, branding them “ridiculous”.

And a disciplinary committee has now stated Willemse, who will also miss Montpellier’s Challenge Cup game against Glasgow on April 2, “acted recklessly and not intentionally, and that there was no evidence of injury” and have decided to ban the player for two weeks, with the four-week entry point having been halved.

The committee gave credit to Willemse for his “acceptance that his actions had constituted foul play and and been worthy of a red card, his attitude to the disciplinary process before and during the hearing and his clear remorse”, which led to reducing the potential ban by 50 percent.

Importantly, though, that rules the second row, who is an important player for the French, out of tomorrow’s Six Nations decider against Scotland.

While the title is on the line this weekend, there is only one way France can win the Six Nations Championship.

Les Bleus must beat Scotland with a bonus.

That will draw them level with Wales in the table and the title will be decided on points difference.

Currently, Wales have a points difference that is 20 better than France’s. Therefore, France must win with a bonus point and by at least 21 points.