2023-09-24 15:35:30
From the dark clouds of “drama”… to the brightening of newfound hope. The French rugby weather forecast has changed completely in less than forty-eight hours, with news on the state of health of the playing master of the French rugby XV, Antoine Dupont. Friday September 22 in the morning, after the first examinations following his exit from the field after a violent head-to-head collision in the 46th minute of the match against Namibia the previous evening, the French oval woke up with morale at half mast, stunned by the first diagnosis, this “maxillo-zygomatic fracture” which seemed to seal the fate of the valiant captain.
Fracture, the word was released, even if the future remained hanging on the verdict later in the evening of a Toulouse expert in facial surgery, that a Dupont returning to his Occitan lands was going to consult Fissa. It was time to explain to what extent the scrum half was essential to a French XV that could already, or almost, rest on its dreams of final victory in this Rugby World Cup at home.
Except that the surgeon in question, Professor Frédéric Lauwers of the Purpan University Hospital in Toulouse, did not just give an opinion, but spoke out in favor of an operation carried out straight away, just before midnight. And so here is Antoine Dupont weighted down with a metal plate to help consolidate his right cheekbone, and the oval which once again breathes and crosses his fingers.
“Touched, but not sunk”
The scrum half will recover at home from his general anesthesia, then rejoin the French team” in a few days “, according to a press release from the French Rugby Federation. Antoine Dupont took it upon himself to reassure his people on social networks: “Hit but not sunk.” Show must go on. Looking forward to meeting the group again. Thank you for your messages “.
Touched but not sunk. Show must go on ⚔️. Looking forward to seeing the group again ⏳
thank you for your messages pic.twitter.com/KCJYJp3Fit— ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? (@Dupont9A) September 23, 2023
In the management of the Blues, some are giving in to optimism. In his column in the British daily Daily Mailthe head of French defense Shaun Edwards blurted out: “I would be surprised if Antoine is not available for the quarter or semi-final. » Big sigh of relief? Let’s say, as the established formula goes, that the countdown has started. As it has been for Anthony Jelonch in recent months, as it still is for hooker Julien Marchand, still waiting for the green light for a possible resumption.
Double certainty: Antoine Dupont remains in the group, there is no longer any question for the moment of calling Baptiste Serin to replace the Stade Toulouse player, and he will not play for the last group match of the Blues on October 6 against Italy. The dependence of the XV of France on its captain has its limits. The Blues are perfectly equipped to replace him against the Italians, whose level we will be able to assess on Friday September 29 against New Zealand.
Weigh the risks of an early recovery
The most obvious option is to establish Maxime Lucu, number two in the position (30 years old, 17 caps). For the automatisms with the opener Matthieu Jalibert, no problem: the two men have been playing together at Union-Bègles-Bordeaux in the Top 14 for five years. The Basque also has his kicking skills going for him, precise and efficient. But it is usually used as a finisher, perfect for managing the last minutes of the match. Baptiste Couilloud (26 years old, 15 caps) can showcase his qualities as a line breaker, more explosive and twirling than Maxime Lucu. His entry against Namibia, punctuated by a try, showed that he was in good shape.
Coach Fabien Galthié will decide, but the puzzle should not give him a big headache as the two men seem largely capable of taking up the Italian challenge, with all the other Blues executives in close ranks.
For the future, the evolution of Antoine Dupont’s condition should further fuel the debates. A possible resumption in the quarter-finals against, probably, the South Africans who, even beaten (8-13), showed themselves to be very fierce against the Irish this Saturday, September 23 at the Stade de France, would undoubtedly increase the confidence of the group and supporters, without eliminating the question of risk.
It was Olivier Magne, the former French international, who got involved on Saturday September 23 on the social network X (formerly Twitter): “Preserving the integrity of athletes must be an absolute priority. Antoine’s possible return to competition bothers and worries me.”pointed out the third row finalist of the 1999 World Cup. This debate, the management of the Blues will also have to face it.
#Antoine #Dupont #mad #hope #return