France centre Jonathan Danty could be set to miss the Rugby World Cup opener against the All Blacks, with injury concerns impacting his chances for selection on Friday September 8th. Danty is reported to have suffered a hamstring injury, which could write him out for the competition’s curtain raiser.
France Head Coach Fabien Galthie is already having to adapt his plans, following the untimely injuries to leading fly half Romain Ntamack and loosehead prop Cyril Baille. Ntamack is set to miss the entire home-soil competition, after suffering a serious knee injury in a Summer Nations Series match against Scotland.
Baille is currently recovering from a calf strain, which is expected to put him out of action for France’s opening two matches against New Zealand and Uruguay. Danty has become the latest injury concern, with the French Rugby Federation (FRF) confirming a “slight problem” with his hamstring following Les Bleus’ win over Australia last weekend.
The La Rochelle midfielder scored in the 41-17 landslide, with the FRF reported to be altering his training schedule, with a routine that will be “adapted to his situation” next week. Predominantly a bruising ball carrier at inside centre, the feasible replacements to the French number 12 jersey include Bordeaux-Begles’ Yoram Moefana or Arthur Vincent of Montpellier.
The opening match against the All Blacks is looking to be the decisive fixture, as to who will finish at the top of Pool A. The duo are joined in the group by Uruguay, Italy and Namibia, with the winner and runner-up of Pool A set to play one of the two progressors from Pool B in the quarter-finals. The lopsided draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup sees South Africa and Ireland as favourites to win Pool B, however Gregor Townsend’s Scotland are the dark horses for the knock-out spots.