Antoine Dupont returns but will he play again in the blue jersey before the end of the World Cup? The mystery remains this Saturday morning, but he validated the first stage of his time trial race. Victim of a fracture “maxillo-zygomatic“Thursday in front of Namibia, the captain of the XV of France was operated on Friday evening, indicated the French Federation in a press release published Saturday morning. A plate was placed on him to consolidate his cheekbone. “In a few days“, the scrum half “vto be able to return to the French team in a process of gradual sporting resumption and under medical supervision“.
His return remains excellent news for Fabien Galthié’s Blues even if his presence for the explosive quarter-final will undoubtedly face South Africa or Ireland (October 14 or 15), two of the other favorites for victory. final, remains unresolved. L’Equipe indicates that the French staff is hoping for a return for this first match of the final table. Doctor Bernard Dusfour, former president of the medical commission of the National Rugby League, explained to AFP on the eve of this operation that, in the event of surgery, the minimum unavailability for a high-level athlete is of “four weeks“. Which would only allow a return to the semi-final at best.
Galthié on the choice not to release Dupont at MT: “I knew this question would come…”
The soap opera for the next three weeks
The delays could be shortened if Dupont wore a protective mask. If World Rugby prohibits its use, an exemption could be considered, depending on the materials and shape of the mask, according to the former doctor of the Blues, Jean-Baptiste Grisoli, cited by Rugbyrama. The XV of France is in any case the soap opera that will keep the whole country in suspense for the next three weeks.
The presence or not of the little genius of the XV of France will move the cursor of the tricolor ambitions in what will be, in any case, the first big turning point of this World Cup for the gang in Galthié. The only certainty today is that the planned return of Dupont to the France group condemns that of Baptiste Serin, the only scrum half present in the group of twelve reservists, unless he were to replace another member of the group. The Toulonnais, who knows the established game plan perfectly, could even have sought a starting place. Today, this is no longer relevant.