Antoine Dupont, authorized to resume training, applies for the quarter-final of the World Cup against South Africa

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., at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis.

Star and emblematic player of the French XV, Dupont (26 years old, 51 caps), injured on September 21 during the match against Namibia and operated on the day after for a maxillo-zygomatic fracture, had an appointment Monday morning, 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.

“The green light has been given, and Antoine will resume the rugby game this afternoon. He is available to the groupelaborated Bruno Boussagol, the health manager of the XV of France, Monday, during a press point. Everything went very quickly in his recovery, since he had no after-effects of his trauma. » Back with the Blues a week ago, the captain of the XV of France began with contactless training, with in parallel constant monitoring by the French medical staff, in particular to reduce the edema which has marked his face since his injury. Born “describing no particular pain”according to the health manager, the Blues scrum-half has not, however, missed any step. “It was not possible to make him take the slightest risk to return as quickly as possible”insisted the technician.

“If he comes back, it is because he is in full possession of his means”

Antoine Dupont is not yet guaranteed to play the upcoming quarter-final against the reigning world champions. “We have three days until Wednesday, and the team’s announcement, to test it and see its reactions”, announced the health manager, specifying that the French captain would be monitored individually after each training session by the French team doctor, Philippe Turblin. It’s now up to the player to show that he has no apprehension with the ball in his hands. And the French staff will ultimately decide whether they choose to field their captain. “Fabien Galthié will discuss with Antoine [Dupont]but, if he comes back, it is because he is in full possession of his means to play this match »insisted Bruno Boussagol.
Still, we can hardly imagine the French management depriving themselves of the best player in the world in 2021 for such a meeting.

If he feels capable of playing against the Springboks – and the past week, ahead of the Blues’ last group match against Italy, won easily on Friday (60-7) in Lyon, seems to be going in this direction – Antoine Dupont could sport a helmet. Provided you support the device: “You have to see his ability to evolve with, without being hampered, on the visual and auditory issues, because he communicates a lot and [qu’]there is a lot of noise in a stadium »specified Bruno Boussagol.

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 joined on Monday afternoon after a weekend of rest.