2023-09-26 20:39:27
Express return. Ten days after his operation, the captain of the XV of France Antoine Dupont will return to the Blues group on Sunday October 1 and should even apply for the possible quarter-final of the World Cup.
“Antoine is doing very well today. The operation went very well, he is resting. He will be back for training on Sunday. Friday and Saturday are rest days for us, there will be time to return within this time frame”indicated Tuesday, September 26, the coach of conquest and specific tasks William Servat.
Operated Friday September 22
“I have no doubt about his ability to play in the quarter-final. It will be reasonable”, added the former international hooker (49 caps between 2004 and 2012). Antoine Dupont (26 years old, 50 caps) was operated on Friday for a maxillo-zygomatic fracture after his injury against Namibia (96-0) the day before.
The best player in the world 2021, star of French rugby, left in the 46th minute of the easily won match in Marseille after being hit violently on the head by Namibian center and captain Johan Deysel. The latter received a six-match suspension on Tuesday, which he can reduce to five if he follows specific training.
Wait for the medical “green light”
“Antoine will join us next weekend. (…) I think that, quite naturally, he will resume at his own pace. The desire is for it to resume as quickly as possible. It is impossible for us to decide anything before having been able to speak with him and having the green light from the medical staff. It seems that Antoine will apply very quickly for the match sheets of the XV of France”said William Servat.
His return for a possible quarter-final, on October 14 or 15, a little more than twenty days after his injury, would come at the right time for French rugby of which Antoine Dupont is THE figurehead. Already orphaned by opener Romain Ntamack, the French are awaiting the return of their jewel for a competition that they have the ambition to win.
But, before thinking about a quarter-final, probably against the South African world champions at the Stade de France, the Blues have a match to win, against Italy, on October 6 in Lyon. It will be without Antoine Dupont, his injury requiring, in the opinion of certain specialists, a minimum of four weeks off.
An “outstanding” player
“Dupont is an extraordinary player. Extraordinary. He is a high-level athlete and, among high-level athletes, he is someone extraordinary.”had also estimated Doctor Bernard Dusfour, former president of the medical commission of the National Rugby League (LNR) in an interview given to AFP before Antoine Dupont’s operation.
“His return is necessarily good news. Afterwards, we will wait for his return so that we can talk with him and see how he is doing. But, indeed, we must remain optimistic. And he is the only one who can tell us how he feels and if he feels like playing.”assured third row François Cros, teammate of Antoine Dupont in Toulouse and in the selection.
Antoine Dupont was optimistic: “Hit but not sunk.” Show must go on. Looking forward to meeting the group again »he had also posted on his social networks, launched into a race against time to be able to return to the 2023 World Cup at home.
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