Returned in recent weeks following a knee injury Jonathan Danty, the player from Marie-Galante, recovers his place in the center of the attack of the XV of France at the expense of the Futunian Yoram Moefana. But four players from the Pacific will nevertheless be on the bench with the return of Peato Mauvaka to face the English in the Crunch.
We felt it coming, we saw him shine once morest Pau last weekend, Jonathan Danty is making his comeback in blue once morest the English to challenge them in the garden of Twickenham on Saturday. The Blues will recover with him a system of significant impact in the game advocated by Galthié but also a remarkable recoverer and scraper of balloons. We remember the one won once morest Australia and which gave the victory to the Blues last fall on the last action of the game.
Fabien Galthié admitted that just before Thursday’s press conference, the Guadeloupean told him “I’m hot…!” »
“With that he said everything, and we understood everything. Obviously we took the time to accompany him since his recovery, but Jo is quite clear in his vision. This is not the first time that he warns us regarding his condition, he knows himselft well and the trust that exists between the players and the staff has a psychological dimension. All week I asked him if he was ready. Jo brings us a lot in his style and especially in his complementarity with Gaël Fickou »
The logical choices of Fabien Galthié
Jonathan Danty is established, Yoram Moefana finds himself on the bench. This game of musical chairs poses no problem for the coach. Especially since Moefana on the bench, can cover two positions on the ground, both winger and center.
“We are still satisfied with Yoram’s performance but in the emulation there is Jo who is coming back, Yo is back a notch but he is still in the group and that’s positive”
Fabien Galthié, coach XV of FranceFFR
Neither Fabien Galthié nor Raphaël Ibanez the manager criticized Yoram Moefana. It is true that the first matches of the Futunian had been correct but without this small spark that he had with him during the 2022 tournament. Yoram Moefana, despite convincing performances, has never been able to make forget the impact and the power of Jonathan Danty. Basically there is a certain logic that imposes itself on the choice of the coach
« Yoram is an integral part of the France group, you have to see him like that because he is a player who has reached levels and there he will have a slightly different role in his progress. A player progresses just as much when he is on the score sheet whether on the starting team or in the group of finishers. Sometimes you have to take a step back in your own construction. These are things that you have to live with, so we rely on him a lot.
The words of the coach are clear. No threat to Yoram.
Heavy on the bench
For the other Futunian it is regarding the same thing. It was thought that Sipili Falatea would start once morest England following their game once morest Ireland. He will eventually be replaced by Toulouse’s Dorian Aldegheri. But there too, no penalty:
“We trust him because we feel he has great potential. He responds remarkably well to our expectations even if he is still learning.”
Galthié playing the complementarity of the first line entirely from Toulouse, Baille Marchand Aldegheri, Falatea will once more endorse the number 18.
“Sipili gave us a lot of satisfaction. He played almost 70 minutes once morest Scotland, with a scrum that was changed. We preferred to start with this front five thinking that Sipili will bring us in coaching all the energy necessary to finish the match.
Fabien Galthié, coach XV of FranceFFR
Facing England Fabien Galthié will innovate with a bench with 5 forwards and 3 backs. In addition to Falatea, there will be a strong bench. With the dad of the pack, Romain Taofifenua in his role of impact player, and especially Peato Mauvaka in that of the blaster
The Caledonian is making his big comeback in blue, he who missed the first three games. He showed dazzling form, especially last week once morest Racing where he opened the scoring and was omnipresent for an hour of play. His thumb injury is just a bad memory. He’s ready for the Crunch.
5 players from overseas are therefore in this group once morest England, we have returned to high standards a few months before the start of the World Cup, which bodes well for the future.
« The hallmark of this team is stubbornness. The Irish are in front but we have the will not to let go of the trophy and we will fight to get the victory » concludes the coach. The intentions are clear, and Twickenham is the only prestigious bastion left to conquer for his troop.
U20 Brent Liufau will be alone to challenge the English
On the Bleuets side, the Wallisian will be the only overseas player in the U20 team who will challenge the English in Bath. Maïno Pakihivatau was not taken in the team, Maël Moustin the Martiniquais is not yet recovered from his injury, Valentin Simutoga has not been taken back since the preparation once morest Italy. Whatever Brent will do with it.
“I’m all alone, that’s how it is, it doesn’t change much. Those are the choices, I’m still proud to wear this shirt.”
Brent played his first match in the Top 14 once morest La Rochelle last weekend. He played ten convincing minutes, despite a little pain in the quadriceps: 6 tackles, two crossings with the ball in hand.
He remembers a particularly tasty moment, that of the tackle once morest the Australian mountain Will Skelton, 2nd line of La Rochelle of 145 kg.
“I ducked really low with my center of gravity lower than him. In fact facing Skelton, either you’re lower or you’re high and you get screwed. And there I put it down because I have confidence in myself, I have qualities that big guys like me don’t have. I still felt it pass when it fell on me! » still laughs the hope of the Paloise section
“We don’t ask ourselves any questions, it’s a Crunch, it’s always appetizing and you always have this ball in your stomach because a lot of people will watch it. This kind of game is exciting for us because there are a lot of players who have never won in England. It’s a great challenge.”
Brent Liufau, 2nd row France U20Ec
For the preparation once morest England, not too much time for the U20s, because most of them were playing this weekend. And they face England this Friday. Brent will be a substitute, but he is pawing with impatience:
“We had more video than field to prepare for this match. We’re expecting something very special because it’s going to rain and the playing conditions are going to be difficult, we’re going to play a lot up front, but we have confidence in our system of play.” the Wallisian tells us in the bus that takes him to Roissy.
Les Bleuets have no choice, to win the tournament they must beat the English in Bath and take the bonus once morest Wales in eight days, hoping that England beat Ireland next week.
