'Keen' Danty unleashed on England
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France coach Fabien Galthié said Jonathan Danty was eager to face England this weekend after being selected for the game.
La Rochelle’s Danty, 30, replaces Yoram Moefana, who is on the bench, in one of three changes from the victory over Scotland in the last round.
Danty, a powerful ball carrier, made the last of his 19 Test appearances in November and has played three club games since recovering from a knee injury.
“I bumped into Jonathan this [Thursday] morning and I said ‘I’m sure the journalists are going to ask something about you. Do you have something to say?” Galthié told reporters.
“His response was short, he said he was ‘keen’.
“With that he said everything. We understood all he needed to say,” he added.
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In the second change, Toulouse tighthead prop Dorian Aldegheri comes in for the banned Mohamed Haouas with Sipili Falatea on the bench for a fourth straight Test.
Aldegheri will line up alongside club teammates Julien Marchand and Cyril Baille in the front row.
“The connection between the players meant linking him with Julien and Cyril,” Galthié said.
“They’ve known each other since childhood pretty much at Toulouse. There’s something powerful there.
“We preferred starting with this front three and when we need Sipili, he will bring all the energy needed to finish the match,” Galthié added.
The final change sees flanker Francois Cros taking the place of injured Anthony Jelonch for Saturday’s game at Twickenham.
Les Bleus can still retain the Championship but need other results to go their way after victories over Italy and Scotland came either side of defeat to Ireland in round two.
France last won at Twickenham in 2007.
They will host this year’s Rugby World Cup which starts on September 8.
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Ethan Dumortier, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Sekou Macalou, 21 Maxime Lucu, 22 Yoram Moefana, 23 Melvyn Jaminet.
Date: Saturday, March 11
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 16.45 (17.45 French time; 16.45 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
