Alexandre Dalifard / Photo credit: DAVID ROGERS / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
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7:46 p.m., September 22, 2023
If the success of the French XV against Namibia during its third Rugby World Cup match is historic, the injury to Antoine Dupont has shaken French supporters. For Didier Lacroix, president of Stade Toulouse who was able to accompany the captain of the Blues on Thursday evening at the private hospital in Provence, the diagnosis will be decided within 48 hours.
A dream evening for the XV of France? Not that much. During its third Rugby World Cup match, the France team largely dominated Namibia (96-0) and scored the largest victory in its history. However, an event, which occurred at the start of the second half, marred this historic success: the injury of Antoine Dupont. Victim of a violent collision with Johan Deysel, the “Minister of the Interior” suffers from a maxillo-zygomatic fracture.
“An incredible appetite”
“This injury requires additional elements on a medical level, additional radiological examinations and a surgical decision which we will have within 48 hours. But of course, the whole world which follows the World Cup and the French as well as the “the entire medical world is working hard to offer the best care and the best diagnostics for Antoine Dupont”, assures Didier Lacroix at the microphone of Europe 1. The president of Stade Toulouse was able to accompany the captain of the XV of France in the ambulance that took him to the hospital. During the journey, he was able to observe the psychological state of the Blues’ best player.
“There was major concern at the time of his injury because he felt there was gravity in it. He was in a lot of pain yesterday. Now he’s better, he has an incredible appetite, he’s already in resilience as we know it with an objective of health and safety for the future. But also a big desire to have the pleasure of finishing this World Cup”, he specifies.
A diagnosis decided within 48 hours
This Friday, the captain of the French rugby team returned to Toulouse to consult specialists. For the occasion, Didier Lacroix accompanied his player to the pink city where he was able to carry out additional imaging examinations. The goal of traveling is to “surround yourself with the best opinions”. But concretely, how long will Antoine Dupont stay away from the group? “It will depend on what is diagnosed, what he can do in terms of physical preparation to get back into shape as quickly as possible,” underlines Didier Lacroix.
But first, you have to finish reading this diagnosis in order to know if there is an intervention to be done or not. “Once again, it will be decided within 48 hours. We need to find a lot of calm and serenity regarding this, even if the decisions we are going to make are important for him, above all else, but also for the rest of the family. World Cup”, insists the president of Stade Toulouse. Asked about the presence of Antoine Dupont at the end of the competition, Didier Lacroix’s response was unanimous. “Yes because I believe in destiny and I hope that it will still have wonderful things to do on the ground that we all need.”