Antoine Dupont green lit for training but France still weighing up risk

France will not take the “slightest risk” with captain Antoine Dupont after he was cleared to resume full training ahead of Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against South Africa.

Scrum-half Dupont has been sidelined since suffering a broken cheekbone during the hosts’ 96-0 victory over Namibia on September 21.

The 26-year-old underwent surgery on the injury, which was caused by a head-on tackle from Namibia captain Johan Deysel.

He was originally cleared to resume “progressive physical activity”.

Dupont will be assessed after every training session, with team health manager Bruno Boussagol insisting the Toulouse player will not be prematurely rushed back into competitive action.

“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.

“For the moment he will train normally but we will do this in an intelligent manner.

“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.

“After every training session he will be assessed.

“In any case 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.”

France head coach Fabien Galthie is due to name his matchday squad to face the Springboks on Friday, with Dupont set to have the final say on his availability.

Bordeaux’s Maxime Lucu deputised at scrum-half for Les Bleus’ final Pool A match, a 60-7 victory over Italy on Friday.

According to Boussagol, 2021 world player of the year Dupont had tested wearing a scrum cap to provide some facial protection but needed to be assured he will “not be restricted in terms of hearing or vision”.

“All his concerns regarding his first contact session have already been analysed,” added Boussagol.

“When he returned to the squad we reduced the swelling (on his cheekbone), we performed rehab on the area of his face most affected by the blow and our osteopath worked on his skull.

“Dupont has not complained of a specific pain or is undergoing any particular treatment.

“The mending of the bone is progressing normally and that is why the surgeon gave the green light (for training).”