Julien Dupuy: “When you have it with you, it’s reassuring”
Julien Dupuy is one of those who knows Jonathan Danty best, having played alongside him at Stade Français, with a championship title in 2015, then having coached him (from 2017 to 2019). “He’s a super endearing guy who really gives of himself for others,” he says about his friend “Fatou” in whom he (re)gave trust. “He asked himself a lot of questions and at times I tried to help him develop so that he worked on his strengths and at other times he played on his weaknesses,” says the former international scrum-half. I told him on certain exercises to only play the others. He excels on percussion and he can now play behind him. I have images in my head of him making long passes. He goes a little sideways because he has a particular passing technique! (Laughs) He is less closed than before in terms of his vision. He manages to see a little more than what is in front of him. It is also a very good scratcher. » With excellent kicking skills? “I won’t go that far!” replies the current assistant coach of Provence Rugby. Besides, often when he hits well, he laughs behind. »And for Dupuy, Danty has become an indispensable element among the Blues. “He also had complicated years due to the results at Stade Français. He became aware of certain things. He changed clubs by going to La Rochelle (in 2021). It was hard for him but it did him good. For me, this is the cornerstone of three-quarters. When you have it with you, it’s reassuring. And when you see it in your face, it stings. I don’t even understand how anyone could have questioned his place. At a World Cup, it’s important to have a guy like him. »
