This Wednesday, we learned that the center of the XV of France Jonathan Danty will certainly not be in the game against the Blacks, at the opening of the World Cup. A detrimental absence.
For a match against the All Blacks, it’s starting to get a lot. After the packages of Ntamack, Baille and Jelonch, another executive of the XV of France will certainly not set foot on the lawn of Saint-Denis (even if there is hope), on Friday September 8: Jonathan Danty. Affected in the hamstrings, the 30-year-old player must forfeit the opening match of the World Cup. A potential absence which will of course be detrimental to the Blues, who lose their spearhead in attack.
WORLD CUP. Jonathan Danty forfeits with the XV of France to challenge the All BlacksBecause yes, Danty’s package will first impact the offensive field. His power and his ability to “take the midfield” will be sorely missed by the men of Galthié, against a team from New Zealand that will absolutely have to be put on the back burner. We also saw what he was capable of against the Australians in the last match of the Blues: author of a try after a superb charge 5 meters from the line, the Stade Rochelais player above all allowed the XV to France to move forward each time he seized the ball. What then allow Antoine Dupont to animate the tricolor game as he pleases.
Loss of an excellent scratcher
Beyond the offensive aspect, the absence of Danty could also be felt in an essential phase of play: le jerk. Because if the XV of France can count on outstanding scratchers like Julien Marchand or Gabin Villière against the Blacks, the presence of the center would have been more than appreciable. Indeed, the qualities of Jonathan Danty in this phase of the game no longer need to be proven.
Jaminet, Danty, Mauvaka and the XV of France thrilled supporters on Twitter against Fiji
Thanks in particular to his low center of gravity, he often manages to recover the ball, despite the presence of attacking supporters. The game against Fiji is the perfect example. With 3 scraped balloons and many delayed releases, Danty clearly weighed in on the Fijian offensives. And when you know the All Blacks, we wouldn’t have been against a few slow outings in order to allow time for the tricolor curtain to replace itself.
If until now, we have focused on the offensive qualities of Jonathan Danty, as well as his ability to scrape many balloons, let’s not forget that the 30-year-old is also a fearsome defender. Accompanied by his friend Gaël Fickou, whom he knows by heart, Danty is not reluctant to mount strong on the first opposing attackers, who often seek to aim for the 10 zone.
VIDEO. 6 Nations. 15 from France. ”Danty may be playing the best rugby of his career”Who will replace him ?
If Jonathan Danty’s package seems more than likely today (even if a slim hope remains), Fabien Galthié and his staff have many options to replace him. To begin with, that of tenure Yoram Moefana (option which is moreover the most probable). Convincing at the post of 12 against Scotland, the UBB player is a safe bet with the Blues. It was he who replaced Jonathan Danty, during the first 3 days of the 2023 6 Nations Tournament. A strong defender, Moefana will also be able to bring power and speed to the center of the field. As for the other most credible option to replace Danty against the Blacks, it is obviously a question of establishing Arthur Vincent in second centerby shifting Fickou to the position of 12. Also very good against Fiji, the MHR player will obviously apply for the opening match.
You will have understood it, in the absence of Jonathan Danty, Moefana and Vincent should be the privileged players to accompany Fickou in the center of the attack of the XV of France. Nevertheless, other options (admittedly very unlikely) exist : that of shifting Damian Penaud to the centeror to align Paul Boudehent, as was the case for a few minutes against Scotland.
RUGBY. XV of France. That’s it, at only 26 years old, Damian Penaud has overtaken Ntamack and Bernat-Salles
