- Antoine Dupont, the French captain, is fully recovered from a cheekbone fracture and is set to lead his team in the World Cup quarter-final against South Africa.
- Dupont’s recovery was progressive, and he diligently validated each stage of his return to ensure his readiness for the important match.
- Despite concerns about facing a formidable opponent, Dupont and the French team are mentally and physically prepared to face the challenge.
PARIS – France’s rugby team received a significant boost ahead of their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash against South Africa, as their influential captain Antoine Dupont declared himself “fully ready” to lead the team after recovering from a broken cheekbone sustained just over three weeks ago.
Dupont’s injury, suffered during a head-on-head tackle in a match against Namibia, had initially raised concerns about his participation in the rest of the tournament. However, the 2021 World Player of the Year has made a remarkable recovery and is set to return to the starting XV for the crucial quarter-final encounter on Sunday.
The scrum-half spoke at a press conference, expressing his readiness for the game. “I feel very well,” said Dupont. “At the time, I didn’t know how serious the injury was, so I thought the competition was over for me. Today I am fully capable and ready for this game on Sunday.”
Dupont emphasized the progression of his recovery, stating, “It was quite progressive. I started low-intensity running and went up and up – and the same with contact. I started in the middle of last week. This week I was able to train fully and get back into game and contact situations which enabled me to get my confidence back.”
Addressing any concerns about being rushed back into action, Dupont affirmed that the return was carefully managed. “Nothing was forced. We have all been working for four years to get to this stage, so not to play with the handbrake on is the main thing.”
The French captain also confirmed that he would wear a scrum cap as advised by his surgeon. He expressed confidence about facing a physical South African team, stating, “In these games, there will always be a little bit of pain either physically or mentally. We need to be ready to suffer.”
Head coach Fabien Galthie expressed his satisfaction with Dupont’s fitness, emphasizing the meticulous approach taken in his recovery. “We took things step by step. Antoine has had time to recuperate.”
