For the moment it is only a side field, but Antoine Dupont was there: in the flesh, red jersey on his back, blue cap screwed on his head, with a black right eye, he continued the sprints and made a few passes with the management of the XV of France. The captain of the Blues carried out, on Sunday, in Aix-en-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône), his first training with the Blues since his cheekbone injury during the match against Namibia on September 21, and the operation which he underwent the next day.
The captain of the Tricolores joined the group on Saturday evening, with his teammates, who benefited from two days of rest. On Sunday, in images broadcast during the 1 p.m. news on TF1 (which holds the television rights to the World Cup held in France), we could see the scrum half, smiling and relaxed, greeting his teammates one by one at the Hôtel des Bleus.
“Welcome to Antoine, back among us,” exclaimed the manager of the French XV, Raphaël Ibañez, before a collective departure for training during which Antoine Dupont contented himself with a few runs, stretching and training. exercises with a ball, according to images from the channel. Then the French Rugby Federation (FFR) broadcast on social networks the first images of the player at work, away from his partners.
The captain of the Blues suffered a maxillo-zygomatic fracture during France’s large victory over Namibia (96-0) on September 21, in a World Cup group match. Friday, he received the agreement from his surgeon, Frédéric Lauwers, who officiates in Toulouse, to join his teammates.
Gradual return
“Following the post-operative medical examination which took place yesterday [Friday], Antoine was authorized to resume progressive directed physical activity”, which will be “under the control of the medical staff of the XV of France”, announced in a press release , Saturday morning, the FFR.
At the top of Group A with three victories in three matches, Fabien Galthié’s men have a final meeting against Italy, Friday October 6, at 9 p.m., in Lyon, to qualify for the quarter-finals.
This meeting, which looks like a round of 16, will most likely take place without Antoine Dupont. His return will be gradual, said on Thursday, the health manager of the XV of France, Bruno Boussagol.
If his teammates validate their ticket for the quarter-finals against Italy, the captain will still have nine days to regain a state of fitness compatible with participation in the quarter-final, Sunday October 15, probably against the rough South African Springboks, reigning world champions.