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French duo cleared to play in Six Nations after red cards


Jonathan Danty
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France veterans Jonathan Danty and Romain Taofifenua are both set to be available for the opening round of the Six Nations against Ireland in Marseille, providing a major boost to coach Fabien Galthie.

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Both were shown red cards in round ten of the Top 14, the final round before Christmas, and have subsequently been handed bans, it is being reported in France.

La Rochelle centre Danty was dismissed early in the second-half of his side’s loss to Stade Francais for a stamp, and will serve a two week ban (one of which has already been served). The day before, Lyon lock Taofifenua, who announced a international retirement U-turn last month, had been sent off for a dangerous tackle in a heavy 46-10 loss to Bordeaux-Begles. He will serve a three week ban, meaning both with be available for the start of the Six Nations, which gets underway for Les Bleus on February 2 against the champions.

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The bans are not good news for English club sides, as Danty will be available for La Rochelle’s next two Investec Champions Cup matches with this week’s Top 14 clash against Pau being the last week of his ban. He will return for a home clash against Leicester Tigers and a trip to Sale Sharks a week later as Ronan O’Gara’s side seek to get their title defence back on track after losing their opening two rounds against Leinster and the Stormers.

Taofifenua will miss round three of the Champions Cup against Connacht, as well as this weekend’s Top 14 clash against Toulouse, but will return for the round four trip to London to take on Saracens at the StoneX Stadium.

Danty and Taofifenua have been integral parts of Galthie’s French team over the past four years, and both featured in their agonising World Cup 29-28 quarter-final loss to South Africa in October, with Danty starting at inside centre and Taofifenua coming on from the bench.

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Phantom 25 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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