The cheekbone of a rugby player has never so excited and worried the crowds. Since the shock that fractured his during the match against Namibia, Antoine Dupont has been racing against time to get back into the game. On Monday, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced the return of its star scrum half, who “obtained authorization to resume rugby training from today”, with contacts therefore, less than a week before the quarter-final of the 2023 World Cup against South Africa, Sunday October 15 at 9 p.m. hours, at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis.
Star and emblematic player of the French Toulouse, with his surgeon, specialist Frédéric Lauwers, for a decisive check-up visit regarding his future in the competition. Only the latter was authorized to give this opinion, which was crucial but not yet decisive.
Apprehension
“The green light from the surgeon is the first step in our decision-making tree, but not the only one,” recalled Bruno Boussagol, health manager of the Blues, on October 3. Indeed, it now remains for Antoine Dupont to show that he has no apprehension with the ball in his hands.
Last week, while his teammates were preparing for their last group match against Italy, won easily on Friday (60-7) in Lyon, Dupont was content to work on the sidelines of training, alternating runs, cycling and exercise exercises. rehabilitation.
The captain of the XV of France will be the only one authorized to say if he feels capable of playing against the Springboks. The French staff will have to decide according to Dupont’s feelings. We can hardly imagine the French management depriving themselves of the best player in the world in 2021 for such a meeting.
The Toulouse player will be able to train normally with his teammates from Tuesday, at their base camp in Rueil-Malmaison (Hauts-de-Seine), which the Blues were due to join on Monday afternoon after a weekend of rest.
