“Everything has cracked …”: great concern for Jaminet, released on a stretcher during Stade Français-Toulouse

2023-04-23 13:52:10

For two minutes, all of Jean-Bouin forgot the Clasico of the Top 14, the contest of who will shout the loudest between the supporters of the Stade Français and the supporters of the Stade Toulousain and the content of this clash between the third and the leader on the lawn. For two minutes, all the stadium’s attention was on a man lying on a stretcher, overwhelmed with pain and probably worry. Because for now, no one knows what Melvyn Jaminet saw fly away in an instant.

Back to the 36th minute of this match where the back of the Blues, central protagonist of the 2022 Grand Slam of the XV of France, advances ball in hand on the left wing. Facing him, Fijian winger Peniasi Dakuwaqa. The Parisian player hunts him, and sends him into touch. Jaminet stays on the ground, and hits Jean-Bouin’s lawn twice with his right hand, his face distorted by pain. On the giant screen of the stadium, the very disturbing angle taken by his right ankle when he rocks freezes the public.

Carried lying on a stretcher by Red Cross rescuers, Melvyn Jaminet began a complete U-turn of the stadium within the walls of the 16th arrondissement. A procession to the locker room accompanied by a standing ovation and “Jaminet, Jaminet” falling from the stands and ended in front of the Stade Toulousain bench where part of the red and black bench rose to touch him briefly as a comfort.

Disturbing images. In the short term, as Stade Toulousain play a Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday in Dublin against Leinster. In the medium term with this end of the season rich in opportunities for the leader of the Top 14. And in the longer term, while this World Cup with the XV of France takes shape in the fall (September 8-October 28). But for the time being, it is impossible to know where to place the cursor of concern.

“Everything cracked after what he said, describes his trainer Ugo Mola at the microphone of Canal +. Then we’ll see. We will take the time to examine it. It looks bad for the next fortnight or three weeks. “It’s the black point of the day, with the KO of Josh Brennan (released on concussion protocol, editor’s note), loose Virgile Lacombe, forwards coach. He was a little short of playing time and there, getting injured before big deadlines is difficult for him. »

Demoted in the hierarchy of the XV of France

Above all, his injury further darkens a season full of difficulties for him. Arrived this summer in Toulouse from Perpignan in the shoes of the back holder of the XV of France, All Blacks scorer and author of the Grand Slam, Melvyn Jaminet first suffered an injury in October in Brive. Another “crack”, this time in the left ankle, which deprives him of an autumn tour with the Blues. In his absence, his competitor in club as in selection Thomas Ramos is essential.

Back for the Six Nations Tournament, he played only seven minutes of the historic success in England (10-53) of the entire competition. In Toulouse, the lack of versatility of this pure back leads the staff not even to take him into the group for the eighth as for the Champions Cup quarter in April. Back against Lyon a week ago, Ugo Mola offered him a second tenure in a row while the executives were spared before leaving for Ireland.

Saturday evening, Melvyn Jaminet scored five points, via a transformation and a penalty. Before leaving, forced, his partners. “He was a leader in management, we missed him afterwards”, regrets the second line Clément Vergé. His last image of the evening? Him, on crutches, leaving the lawn of Jean-Bouin. His head darkened by another twist of fate.