2023-09-22 14:43:53
It is a bad gesture, certainly unintentional, which marks a turning point in the 2023 World Cup for the French XV. In the 45th minute of the Blues’ third group match against Namibia, Johan Deysel, the captain of the Welwitschias, came home, on a poorly controlled tackle, head first into the face of Antoine Dupont. An action which caused the maxillo-zygomatic fracture of the tricolor number 9, and therefore his potential absence for a long period.
The day after this action, Johan Deysel spoke publicly for the first time and apologized. “I would like to extend my best wishes to Antoine Dupont. Obviously I didn’t want to hurt him. Everything happened very quickly and I couldn’t position my head quickly enough, which led to a blow to the head,” regrets the Namibian captain, in a message relayed by World Rugby.
“A captain without malice”
The former Colomiers player, in Pro D2, even spoke with the Blues coach Fabien Galthié at the end of the meeting, and also contacted Antoine Dupont “through the French team doctor” . “I know the rules and I knew straight away that I was in the wrong. (…) He is a great player and a great personality and I wish him a speedy recovery,” he concluded.
Allister Coetzee, the coach of Namibia, who had already stepped up after the match to defend his player, insulted on social networks, did it again this Friday. “Johan Deysel is a great, experienced leader who has never had any problems with cards or fouls. He is a good person and a captain without malice. While I understand that fans’ emotions may be heightened, I want to reiterate that his action was not intended to cause harm. He attempted to execute a tackle. We are all united behind him,” he insisted.
Excluded after using the bunker, Johan Deysel will be suspended for the Namibians’ last match in this World Cup against Uruguay, scheduled for next Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.
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