2023-09-22 14:59:17
This is the image everyone feared. That of Antoine Dupont, knee on the ground on the lawn of the Vélodrome, groggy after a terrible collision with the Namibian Johan Deysel. Since this head-to-head contact, which forced the playing master of the French XV to leave his teammates to go to the hospital, the concern has been enormous. A look back at a tense evening and night.
How did the injury happen?
It was in the 45th minute that the dreaded clash took place. While the Namibians have just scored their first try – which will ultimately be canceled – on an interception, after having conceded 54 points in the first half alone, all eyes are on Antoine Dupont, who remained on the ground. The captain of the Blues is visibly in pain, he is holding his face.
Quickly, the slow motion reinforces the worry. Distribution as usual, the scrum half shifts Matthieu Jalibert to his left, but still suffers the enormous tackle from Johan Deysel, unable to stop his movement. Far too high on his supports, the Colomiers center hits the right part of Antoine Dupont’s face with his forehead. A huge shock, particularly violent, which devastated the Frenchman.
Concern is immediately visible in everyone’s eyes, including that of the person concerned. When he leaves the field, Antoine Dupont holds his face, and his head movements do not bode well. His immediate return to the locker room does not reassure observers either. Johan Deysel also leaves his partners, first for a yellow card then transformed into red by the bunker, the new video refereeing device.
How did the Blues react?
From the end of the match, despite the Blues’ record victory against very weak Namibians, all attention was paid to the injury of Antoine Dupont, whose absence could prove catastrophic for the Blues. Fabien Galthié, with a sullen expression, was not euphoric at the microphone of France 2. “He went to do exams,” he confided. There is a suspicion of a crack or fracture in the maxilla. We will wait for the exams to move forward. »
In the mixed zone then in the Blues locker room, we only talk about the captain’s condition. “There is a lot of stress. I hope it’s not serious. He went out, he took a big hit. We know what he gives off humanly. He’s my friend,” underlines Cyril Baille in particular. Pierre Bourgarit also appears very concerned after the meeting. “We know Antoine, it’s rare that he grimaces,” insists the hooker.
However, no diagnosis has yet been made on the injury after this match. In front of journalists, Fabien Galthié once again mentions a “suspicion of a crack or fracture of the maxilla”. Visibly upset by this big blow, he gets annoyed when asked if Antoine Dupont should not have been replaced at half-time to protect him, when the victory was already achieved. “We can’t take out all fifteen players,” he asserted. We planned to change the two pillars and a second line (Woki). The others, who could be replaced, had to come off in the 55th minute. »
What is the first diagnosis?
This Friday morning, the ax falls. Antoine Dupont, the best player in the world in 2021, suffers from a “maxillo-zygomatic fracture”. However, no duration of unavailability is specified, a specialist surgeon still having to examine the Frenchman when the injury has deflated. Dupont remains – for the moment – with the Blues.
Facing the media, Laurent Labit, Fabien Galthié’s deputy in charge of the attack, confirmed the uncertainty. “We will wait for the surgeon’s verdict regarding Antoine’s unavailability,” explains the former Racing 92 coach. “We will wait 48 or 72 hours to find out what will happen. They will then make the decision, but we don’t want to plan too quickly. »
The injury is serious, however, and the hope of seeing him again for a possible semi-final is slim. “If it is sufficiently stable and there is no need to operate, it requires a minimum of four weeks of immobilization,” explains maxillofacial surgeon François Morel. A possible return at the end of the competition would then be possible. In the event of an operation, the trend would be very different. “You have to wait four or five days for it to deflate before operating, then let at least four weeks pass. It would not be reasonable to have him play again during the World Cup,” said the surgeon.
What will happen in the next few hours?
After spending the night in hospital, Antoine Dupont will now head to Toulouse to consult specialists. According to Didier Lacroix, president of Stade Toulouse, the captain of the Blues must see Professor Nicolas Sans (radiologist) then Professor Frédéric Lauwers, “an expert in maxillofacial surgery, who is also waiting for Antoine to define what is the best path, operation or not.
The future of Antoine Dupont in the competition and, incidentally, in the France group will depend on the answer to this question. While everyone is already wondering who could replace the maestro of the XV of France, the staff prefers to take the time to have a definitive estimate of his unavailability before declaring him forfeit and calling a replacement, in all likelihood the reservist Baptiste Serin, who followed the entire preparation of the Blues.
In the meantime, the players will benefit from a little rest with their loved ones. A good way to get out of this terrible hangover that has been plaguing them since Thursday evening. “It will do them good until Sunday,” thinks the assistant coach. Then, we have two weeks to work well, support them, discuss. But Antoine stays with us, everyone will be together. » And it is together that they will face this new hard blow, after the injuries of Romain Ntamack (knee, forfeit), Paul Willemse (thigh, forfeit) or Julien Marchand (hamstring, absent at least four weeks after his injury against the New Zealand).
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