France captain Antoine Dupont has reportedly made a full return to training, ahead of selection for the Rugby World Cup quarter-final against South Africa this Sunday. Dupont is said to have been cleared after he suffered a broken cheekbone in the Pool A victory over Namibia.
The incident occurred when Dupont clashed heads with Namibia captain Johan Deysel, during the 96-0 victory on September 21st. France’s medical director Bruno Boussagol said they would not take “the slightest risk” with the scrum-half.
“There was no fallout from his injury and he was able to rapidly increase the pace of his training sessions with the physical trainers,” Boussagol told a press conference on Monday. After being cleared to participate in “progressive physical activity”, Dupont has now made his return to full training with his Les Bleus teammates.
Dupont has not yet lost a home match as France captain, and would be instrumental for Fabien Galthie’s side ahead of the quarter-final clash with South Africa.
“The contact and stepping it up in training will be done pretty rapidly, we have three days to test him and to see his reaction,” Boussagol said.
“It is unthinkable that we would take the slightest risk to bring Antoine back prematurely into the team unless he is in full possession of all his capabilities.
“The mending of the bone is progressing normally and that is why the surgeon gave the green light [for training].”
Boussagol was queried as to whether the 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year would wear a scrum cap for the match against the Springboks.
“We’re working on it, he’s already tried that type of protection,” Boussagol said in the recent press conference.
“There are two aspects that are essential with wearing a scrum cap: his vision nor his hearing can’t be affected by it.
“There’s a lot of noise in the stadium and Antoine communicates a lot.”
