Stop igniting. After the dissemination of contradictory information in recent days concerning Antoine Dupont, and in particular a rather surprising optimism from William Servat Tuesday, the health manager of the XV of France Bruno Boussagol came to reestablish some facts this Thursday. The new watchword: we are not moving forward on anything. Concerning the presence of the captain of the Blues for a possible quarter-final, the doctor assured that the question “did not arise today”. “There are so many things to validate before we just plan on his return to the group,” he added. This indeed seems more reasonable.
Doctor Lauwers at the heart of the decision-making process
This return is still planned for Sunday, but it is not yet certain. The scrum half must first meet his surgeon, Friday or Saturday, and it is the latter who will give the green light or not for the player’s trip to Aix-en-Provence. Generally speaking, all remaining steps between now and Dupont’s presence on the field for a rugby match must first be validated by Doctor Lauwers. They will then be discussed within the specially created “Dupont cell”, with the player, his family, Fabien Galthié, the Blues medical staff and his Toulouse club.
The French captain’s program once he returns to Aix-en-Provence with his teammates has already been thought out, in any case. It will start with cycling, then a re-athleticization phase, all covered in interviews with the psychological unit. “We will do everything to support him as best as possible,” promises Boussagol. For now the news is reassuring. But we don’t have everything under control yet. We simply know that his motivation is very strong. »
Watch out for concussion, too
From Toulouse, Dupont keeps the staff regularly informed of his state of form, and takes the opportunity to ask for some advice for his follow-up. “It’s going as best as possible on D+6 of an operation of this type,” Boussagol said again. The edema is resolved, he has pain linked to the frontal impact but not to the operation itself. He is confident. »
There is still another problem to resolve, that of concussion. Having taken a back seat given the severity of the fracture last week, it must undergo a neurological check-up which will be carried out in the coming days. The recovery program will also depend on the results of this test. “We are waiting, in any case he has never described pain that corresponds to the symptoms of a concussion,” says the health manager. Everything in its time, therefore, even if everyone shares the same desire to see “Toto” frolicking again very quickly.