“Antoine Dupont joins the France group today,” the French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced in the morning. The scrum half, who was to meet the group in Aix-en-Provence “in the evening”, had not yet arrived at 9:00 p.m., according to the same source.
“Following the post-operative medical examination which took place yesterday (Friday, editor’s note), Antoine was authorized to resume directed progressive physical activity”, which will be “under the control of the medical staff of the XV of France”.
Guide and inspiration for the Blues, Dupont (26 years old, 51 caps) was hit violently on the cheekbone by Namibian center Johan Deysel during the big victory (96-0) against the “Welwitschias” on September 21 in Marseille. Released in the 46th minute, Dupont was operated on the following evening at the Purpan hospital in Toulouse by Professor Frédéric Lauwers, one of the best French specialists in maxillofacial surgery.
Since then, he has started a race against time to get back on the pitch.
Family rest
If his teammates validate their qualification for the quarters on Friday in Lyon against Italy, there will still be nine days left for Dupont to prepare physically and psychologically for a return, with a likely clash against the rough South African Springboks, champions in mind. of the world title, on October 15.
A challenge commensurate with the will and thirst for titles of the best player in the world in 2021, for whom winning the William Webb-Ellis Cup on October 28, at home, is a stated objective. Nicknamed “Toto”, he rested after spending the weekend with family in his village of Castelnau-Magnoac (Hautes-Pyrénées).
The day after the operation, he announced, via his social networks, that he had been “hit but not sunk”, confiding that he was “looking forward to joining the group”. Since then, Dupont’s jaw has magnetized the debates, against the backdrop of a return to the Blues who, at the top of Group A after three victories in three matches, have a final meeting on Friday in Lyon against Italy, for validate their ticket for shifts.
This meeting, which looks like a “round of 16”, will very likely take place without Dupont, the health manager of the French XV Bruno Boussagol having even said on Thursday that he was “convinced”.
Gradual return
“There are so many things to validate that we are not planning on that. We are only planning on his return to the group, the resumption of rugby,” he said at a press conference. “His return will be gradual, first by cycling. A priori at the beginning of the week, added Bruno Boussagol. this shock. He has a strong motivation to come back, but his return to the field will be gradual.”
Facing Italy, it is the Bordelo-Béglais Maxime Lucu who should wear the N.9 jersey, his complementarity with the fly-half Matthieu Jalibert seeming to give him an advantage over the Lyonnais Baptiste Couilloud to take over in the interim.
Forward coach William Servat said on Tuesday that he had “no doubt” about Dupont’s presence in the quarter-final.
Antoine “Dupont is an extraordinary player. Exceptional. He is a high-level athlete and, among high-level athletes, he is someone extraordinary”, emphasized to AFP Doctor Bernard Dusfour, former president of the medical commission of the National Rugby League (LNR), before the operation of the captain of the Blues.