1
France name Antoine Dupont as stand-in captain
Antoine Dupont will captain France during next month’s Autumn International Series the French Rugby Federation has announced.
ADVERTISEMENT
Dupont stands in for France’s usual captain, back-rower Charles Ollivon, who is expected to be on the sidelines until next year with a serious knee injury.
The 24-year-old Toulouse scrum half, who is considered one of the world’s leading players, has over the last two years produced a string of stand-out performances. As a result he was named as player-of-the-tournament at the conclusion of the 2020 Six Nations.
The no.9 reportedly won the role ahead of domestic team-mate and childhood friend Anthony Jelonch and his Toulouse captain Julien Marchand. Racing 92 centre Gael Fickou and La Rochelle’s No. 8 Gregory Alldritt are also believed to have been considered for the position.
Les Bleus’ new captain has made 32 test appearances since making his international debut as a 20-year-old in 2017.
He has plenty of domestic experience having featured 61 times for Castres before making the short journey to join their Top 14 rivals Toulouse in 2017.
He's only played 7?? test matches!
It's a brave new world for the Azzurri ??#labaro #thenewwillcarlinghttps://t.co/8HR2M63LDc— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 25, 2021
Another Toulouse player, prop Dorian Aldegheri, has been named to replace La Rochelle’s Uini Atonio in the squad after the giant tight-head withdrew due to injury.
ADVERTISEMENT
Atonio, 31, suffered a muscle injury and as a result was replaced after an hour of his club’s Top 14 victory over Toulon on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Aldegheri faces stiff competition from Lyon’s experienced Demba Bamba and Castres’ Wilfrid Hounkpatin for a starting berth in the French front row.
Les Bleus host Argentina on November 6, Georgia eight days later and New Zealand on November 20.
Fabien Galthie’s squad met up at their training base on Sunday and will miss their club games next weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
France finished as runners-up in the 2021 Six Nations winning three of their five matches but suffering an unexpected round three 23-27 home defeat at the hands of Scotland which scuppered their title hopes.
“The name Vunipola comes up repeatedly at Bordeaux Bègles where Billy matches the profile sought to succeed Louis Picamoles."
???https://t.co/44qbR4MtnV— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 25, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments