The first year of Fabien Galthié's mandate, Virimi Vakatawa was the complement of the essential Gaël Fickou in the center of the tricolor attack.
Then injuries (knee, thigh, ribs) and misshapenness got involved.
First packages.
Substitutes who impress and score points: Arthur Vincent, Jonathan Danty, Yoram Moefana.
Then a half-hearted comeback in the sky and white Racing 92 jersey. have their place in the group of 33 players selected for the 2023 World Cup.
This season, the center of Fijian origin (29 years old; 30 caps) has gone through a delicate period.
To the point of never being selected for the five Grand Slam rounds last spring, his last tenure dating back to March 26, 2021 and a defeat against Scotland (23-27) at the Stade de France.
Strong competition with Arthur Vincent, Yoram Moefana, Jonathan Danty
To help him regain his full potential, the staff of the XV of France regularly retained him for the preparation courses, before, each time, finally sending him back to the club.
Not selected.
Before this tour of Japan and what looks like a last chance to find a place in the now abundant competition in his position between Vincent and Moefana, effective in defense, solid on impact and versatile (they can play on the wing, like Vakatawa), and Danty, with a profile similar to his: powerful, capable of opening breaches in the defenses and playing behind him.
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“
We have confidence in him, he is an important person in our system.
He brings confidence through his experience, from everything he gives off to our young team
, ”said the assistant coach of the Blues in charge of the attack, Laurent Labit, this Wednesday at a press conference in Tokyo.
Stressing that another assistant, Shawn Edwards, had appointed him captain of the defense in the absence of Gaël Fickou "
since our first match with the British Barbarians
".
"
Virimi is important for the players around him, especially for Yoram who relies on him a lot.
It gives him confidence and he also helps him.
»
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But Laurent Labit, who knows Virimi Vakatawa inside out - he managed him at Racing 92, from 2013 to 2019 - acknowledged and confirmed that the player had still not returned to his 2020 level, which made him one of the best centers on the planet.
“
Of course we expect him to do more and better
,” the technician ended up conceding, referring to his performance during the first test against Japan.
“Gaël Fickou and Jonathan Danty are one step ahead of him.
Yoram Moefana pushes.
That's the rule of the game."
Laurent Labit
Three months ago, during the Six Nations Tournament, he had already spoken about the difficulties encountered by his player.
“
Virimi, I know him better than the others.
I know his potential, everything he brings to the field when he is fit and confident.
We absolutely wanted to put him in the group to restore his confidence and make him work in the hope that he finds his level.
We do not forget that he was a safe bet for the team, which he is capable of doing.
Afterwards, Gaël Fickou and Jonathan Danty are one step ahead of him.
Yoram Moefana pushes.
That's the rule of the game. We put him back on track and we'll see over the weeks what his level is…
” He has one year left to convince the French staff that he has recovered all his qualities.
