New dad to start for familiar France in Bok Test

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Centre Jonathan Danty has been named in an unchanged France starting XV to face the Springboks on Saturday, despite missing training this week to be with his partner and newborn child.

Danty became a father on Sunday for the first time and retains his place in the team for the clash with the world champions in Marseille, said coach Fabien Galthie on Thursday.

He will return to the set-up on Friday in time for a final light session at the Stade Velodrome.

“He made the decision to join us for the team run tomorrow and play in the event which is a match against the world champions,” Galthie said.

“For the gameplan and training, we sent him the documents. As you know, we keep things simple for big games.

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The only changes for Les Bleus from last week’s narrow win over Australia are on the bench as uncapped pair Bastien Chalureau and Reda Wardi come in for Killian Geraci and Dany Priso.

La Rochelle loosehead prop Wardi had been serving a three week ban for a high challenge on national captain Antoine Dupont while on Top 14 duty.

“We wanted to have him at the start but he was guilty of a dangerous tackle and was shown a red card which stopped him from coming with us,” Galthie said.

“Once he was able to, we didn’t hesitate in calling him up.

Lock Chalureau comes in for the injured Geraci after the 30-year-old lifted the European Challenge Cup and Top 14 with his club Montpellier over the last two seasons.

“We’ve followed him for two years since Montpellier have been transformed and taken a dimension that has allowed him to come into our changing room and claim a shirt,” Galthie said.

“It gives us options depending on what happens in the match.”

France – 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Subs: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Bastien Chalureau, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Matthieu Jalibert.

© Agence France-Presse

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Devin Hermanus