Romain Ntamack now gone, Fabien Galthié will have to make a decision concerning the position of number 10. For the third and penultimate preparation match against Fiji the choice has been made, since it is Antoine Hastoy who will accompany Maxime Lucu to the hinge. But will he be the real holder for the World Cup?
Injuries before a World Cup are not news for the XV of France. Over the years, the selection has indeed had to deal with several hard knocks such as the one that occurred recently in Fabien Galthié, who had to give up on the participation of Romain Ntamack.
Who will be Ntamack’s successor?
If there is a man who can understand the situation, it is Yann Delaigue. The former opener was indeed to be a holder with the XV of France during the 2003 World Cup in Australia, alongside a certain Galthie in number 9, but he was finally forced to forfeit following a rupture of a tendon in his left biceps.
“Jalibert is inclined to attack, he carries the ball more”
Now consultant for RMC Sports he deciphered the profiles of the possible successors of Ntamack, begining with Matthew Jalibert. ” He is focused on the attack, he carries the ball more. His partners will have to know this and adapt to this, if he holds “explained the former tricolor opener, in an interview with Rugbyrama. ” Ntamack makes others play more. He will carry the ball only once or twice per game, but it will be effective. With Jalibert who is more attacking, the team will therefore play differently “.
“If we want to do Ntamack bis, we have to put Hastoy”
” For me, it would be a mistake to ask Jalibert to be less offensive. In that case, you might as well get someone else to play! ” has followed Yann Delaigue, for who Antoine Hastoy has a profile closer to that of Romain Ntamack. ” If you want to do Ntamack bis, you have to put Hastoy, which has a similar profile. Or Ramos who looks even more like him. He is less good defensively than Ntamack but offensively, he looks like him. He also used to play with Dupont in Toulouse… “.