The center of La Rochelle was hit in the ankle against Italy and will be absent against Ireland. The Blues staff have several options to replace him against Ireland.
A major absentee for the clash against Ireland. The French Rugby Federation announced on Monday the package of Jonathan Danty (29 years old, 12 caps), hit in the ankle, for the second match of the Six Nations Tournament, Saturday (5:45 p.m.), against Ireland. Recalled during the unprecedented Autumn Nations Cup, the player trained at the Stade Français Paris had won his place during the summer tour of the XV of France in Australia (two losses, one victory). The powerful center of the Stade Rochelais is replaced numerically by the opening half of Lyon, Léo Berdeu (23 years old, 0 selection).
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But the question that now arises is: who to pair up in the center of the field with Gaël Fickou against the XV of Clover? Logic would dictate that Yoram Moefana (21), who made a good comeback on Sunday against the Nazionale, is thrown into the deep end and honors his fourth selection, the second as a starter after starting against England in the European Cup. Fall of Nations (defeat 22-19). Before the start of the competition, the versatile three-quarters of Union Bordeaux-Bègles, originally from Futuna, had confided: “It is a pride and a pleasure to prepare for the Tournament with the French team. It’s a dream come true. I find myself here when I did not expect it. It gives me even more motivation to train.”
I see it every day, Vakatawa has qualities that few players have. He will come back stronger and very quickly
Gael Fickou
The other solution from the tricolor staff is to revive Virimi Vakatawa (29 years old, 30 caps). Absent from the November tour due to a rib injury, the Racingman has since struggled to regain his best level. He had also been released this weekend and had participated in the large victory of the Ile-de-France residents over Brive. Before facing the Clover XV, Gaël Fickou was confident about the return to the fore of his attacking friend in the club. “Things can go very quickly, especially in the national team. We could see that “Viri” was a starter for two years, making extraordinary performances. He helped us win a lot of matches. He has enormous qualities, he pointed out. It is one of the best centers in the world. In a sports career, there are ups and downs.
And Fickou to insist:I find that we are hard on him, he is still at a very good level. We expect him to do exceptional things every time, so when he doesn’t, we believe that he is not at his best. I don’t doubt his level. I see him every day, he has qualities that few players have. He will come back stronger and very quickly.“As of Saturday against the impressive Clover XV against the Welsh?
Jalibert-Ntamack, low-paying option
The last alternative, more improbable, would be to retry the association with Matthieu Jalibert at the opening and Romain Ntamack in the center. This option had been launched in the fall against Argentina (29-20) then Georgia (41-15), but had not been convincing. After the victory against the Pumas, Laurent Labit, the tricolor attack coach, admitted that their attacking duo had left “a slightly bitter taste». “We have to watch, we have to allow time. It’s not in one match that we’re going to say “that’s great” Where “we stop”. It’s an option we want to have depending on the opponent, or during the match if we want to speed up the game or better manage it with kicking. She works very, very well in training., he added. In the second match against Georgia, the copy had also been much better, without being perfect.
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This tactical choice would nevertheless seem very risky. Matthieu Jalibert, absent against Italy, just returning to competition after being hit in the thigh against the Scarlets in the European Cup. And Romain Ntamack, disappointing on Sunday, nevertheless remaining in the eyes of the staff the number 1 choice at the opening. In any case, the pair of centers chosen will quickly have to find automatisms because Saturday’s clash promises to be titanic in midfield against the formidable Irish pair formed by Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose. Answer Thursday at 11 a.m. with the announcement of the team composition by Fabien Galthié.
