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All Black hopes that France will be without frontline star are dashed
By Josh Raisey
France and Bordeaux-Begles centre Yoram Moefana should be available for all of his country’s internationals in November despite receiving a three-week ban for a red card against La Rochelle recently.
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The 24-year-old was sent off for a dangerous tackle on fellow French international Jonathan Danty during October 20’s Top 14 encounter at Stade Marcel-Deflandre. The incident occurred at the 34th minute and referee Tual Trainini ultimately issued a red card after reviewing video footage.
The Ligue Nationale Rugby announced on Thursday that the 28-cap France international had initially received a six-week ban for dangerous play, which was halved.
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A statement reads (translated on Google): “After taking into account mitigating circumstances (expression of remorse, recognition of
guilt, clean disciplinary record, youth and inexperience and conduct before and during the hearing), the sanction was reduced by 3 weeks.”
The centre is eligible for tackle school, which would reduce his ban by a further week and therefore allow him to partake in all of Les Bleus’ Autumn Nations Series encounters, which begin with a visit from Japan at the Stade de France on November 10, followed by the All Blacks and Argentina.
Both Moefana and Danty were part of France’s 42-man squad that trained this week at France’s base in Marcoussis, although they were part of the 19-strong contingent that were released back to their clubs this weekend, although Moefana will of course be unable to play in Bordeaux’s clash with ASM Clermont Auvergne.
This verdict will be a boost for head coach Fabien Galthie, who will want as many players as possible at his disposal when France host the All Blacks on November 16, just over a year after the opening match of the World Cup. Moefana started at inside centre in Paris last September as France began their tournament with a 27-13 win over New Zealand.
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Moefana is a very very good player, both on attack and defence and he's able to cover multiple positions in the backline. No Tier 1 team are scared of him specifically though.
Absurd headline. NZ rugby players crave to play against the very best. That is part of the reason that NZ's record in international rugby is utterly without equal.
Yes, the national team whose representatives were reportedly "livid" that France wouldn't send a full-strength team to NZ next year, are now sad that they're facing a stronger side. Lol.
Hahaha "All Black hopes" WTF?
What ‘hopes’ are you talking about?
I would imagine that the All Blacks- being a professional sports team at the highest level- would want to face the strongest teams possible.
As just a punter that’s what I want to see.
More ,Yoram Moefana is not exactly a "frontline star"....
What a ridiculous headline. Who comes up with this rubbish?
Checking the profile of the author reveals he's an Englishmen. Not surprised honestly, we always get rubbish from Poms like this every time the ABs tour Europe. Just going down the checklist now:
Haka should be scrapped ✔️
ABs should be scared ✔️
Young English player offended guy on the other side of the world doesn't know him ✔️