Dupont faces crucial meeting next week to decide World Cup future
France’s medical director Bruno Boussagol has said that captain Antoine Dupont has “ticked those boxes” following his return to training after undergoing surgery for a fractured cheekbone, but his future participation at the World Cup depends on whether the surgeon gives the green light next week.
Despite passing the concussion protocols and getting through his first two sessions unscathed, Dupont and France will have to wait until Monday to see whether the surgeon believes he is fit for contact or not. Even if the scrum-half does get the green light, Boussagol said that it will be down to the French staff to decide whether he is fit to play.
“He returned to the squad this weekend,” Boussagol said. “He was at training on Sunday with the medics. He did some exercises to see if everything was OK. Then he swiftly moved on to some running drills. He ticked those boxes in the first session and again in the second session. Everything is on track with Antoine. He passed his concussion protocols this morning so he is free from that too.
“The next step is a visit to the surgeon which is scheduled for Monday. That is the last check. We will wait for the surgeon’s opinion to see what progress we can expect from Antoine next week, assuming we qualify after the Italy match.”
France face Italy on Friday in Lyon, and will be without their captain there. They will then face a nervous wait over the weekend to find out the 26-year-old’s World Cup fate, with a probable clash with reigning world champions South Africa waiting for them in the quarter-finals at the end of that week.
“I’m going to try to be clear about this,” the medical director said. “There is a pathway of decision making in his comeback. The prerequisite is the surgeon. That is the medical view. For as long as we don’t have the medical view, we cannot look at the rugby side of things and contact. Even if he has the green light from the surgeon, we will look at his comeback in a progressive way, like we would with any player returning to the pitch.
“At the same time, if the opinion of the surgeon is good, if he passes that test, we move into another stage. We will have to see how he reacts. Is he capable of getting involved in contact? Does he have the physical capacity? Does he still have any concerns?
“The third stage is the choice of the coaches. Just because Antoine is on the pitch doesn’t mean that he’s going to play. That is the third stage which must be decided by the coaches, once they have been updated about Antoine with the rest of the staff. They will discuss that and they can take their decision. There are three important stages but it is all conditional on the approval of the surgeon.”
Dupont is not the only French star that is recovering from an injury currently. Hooker Julien Marchand limped off the field in the opening match of the World Cup against the All Blacks with a hamstring injury, and Boussagol said that France are continuing to monitor the Toulouse star after he “had some problems”.
He said: “He was at a stage of increasing his power. We had two days to up the intensity and introduce some rugby-based drills. We had a target that he didn’t reach, so we preferred not to take any risks. We are in the fourth week [since he was injured against New Zealand]. We know hamstrings are delicate to manage. We preferred to delay his comeback. We will monitor him day by day and continue to work with him and the conditioning staff.
“He had some problems doing a series of tasks. The first stage was OK but the second when he did the next one, we felt there was a drop in quality. We said it would take between four and six weeks. We are in the fourth week now and we decided we were taking a risk in forcing the training and bringing him into preparations for this week, so we have taken him out of the group.
“Next week we will start again and try to progress him through the stages. If he gets past this stage, then we can assume he will be in contention for the next match [a possible quarter-final]. If he doesn’t get through that, we will have to proceed cautiously. And that could take another two weeks.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Those who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
31 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
1 Go to commentsOwen Farrell is one of the most polarising figures in the game. His entire attitude on the field (and sometimes off of it) smacks of arrogance and he is about as brash as Donald Trump in a political debate. Yet behind that facade is a calculating, determined and powerful leader who drives any team forward with an Iron will. You are right in that he gets better in the heat of battle and in the face of overwhelming odds. He develops a narrow focus and he delivers his best in a way that few others can. He is one of Englands great performers who sacrificed alot for the team and who often bears the weight of responsibility of leadership alone on the field and in front of the media. Despite what many think of him he is a fantastic game manager with a good rugby brain. He will be sorely missed from the international stage
31 Go to commentsAlways proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
1 Go to commentsNot sure why Papali’i thinks Scott Robertson needs his help to select the next All Black Captain. In my view, Papali’i would be well advised to have a good hard look at his own game, and to reflect on how fortunate he is to even wear the black jersey. Rather than shouting at his team mates at every set piece, standing in the mid-field pointing and holding his arms out and flopping to the ground at the back of every second or third ruck, may I suggest he would be far better employed actually doing something on the field. Seriously, watch him for 10 minutes during a game - not much happens. When was the last time he was first to a breakdown, or actually made a turnover? If Robertson is half the Coach I think he is, Papali’i will not be anywhere near the AB’s this season.
11 Go to commentsHiding coming up for Saders.
1 Go to commentsDagg really does go down some rabbit holes doesnt he? In the name I guess.
6 Go to commentsHey Brett I’m one who is looking forward to seeing JS back on the rugby field. I was under the impression that a large portion of his contract was via a third party so RA isn’t having to foot the bill My big concern is around the Tahs and what is happening there, why are so many players bailing. Is it the program, the coaches or the culture. Joe Schmidt recently said he had been at the Tahs all week and DC is a good coach. Something doesn’t gel , 10 front row forwards in a season that’s not bad luck
13 Go to commentsIncorrect title. He hasn’t said Furlong is one of the best scrummagers. He said he is one of the best props.
2 Go to comments“_It seems like a crazy thing that he was counting them_“ Are you stupid, mate? Anyone with more than half a brain understands that he meant “a lot” or something similar. Do you really think he was counting? “*Goode*: Told you, Jim!“ No, you banana. You said, explicitly, that the Irish players didn’t say what EE said they did. Even though you weren’t there. Even though you didn’t hear a word they said. M0r0n.
110 Go to commentsI am sure that Scott Robertson did do the courtesy of telling Sam Cane that he was not in his All Black plans and NZR would support him if he wished to sign a lucrative pension playing out his career in the cream puff rugby that is Japan’s Top League. I fail to see this as a negative as Israel Dagg is trying to spin it. Razor allowed Cane to leave with dignity rather than being unceremoniously dumped as was Buck Shelford.
6 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsAT THE END OF THE DAY THE TEAM WITH 4 WORLD CUPS WILL ALWAYS GET TO TELL THE OTHER NATION TO SUCK MY BALLS. THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC AND IRREFUTABLE FACT.
110 Go to commentsWish him and his family the best in his retirement from International rugby and into the future.
1 Go to commentsSelf proclaimed expert/pundit Andy Goode and his very personal views on referees…Why recalling them in such an article as if he were an undisputed authority on the subject ? Only because fellow writer ?
1 Go to commentsLate growth spurts are a common problem over here. I’m well over 30, and I just started having a growth spurt too. Could be a world class prop soon.
1 Go to commentsas much as the challenge cup is a bit of a nothing competition, winning it would still mean something. last year it was won by toulon, who are now something like 4th in the top 14? The year before it was won by Lyon a season before they finished 3rd in the league. The year before that the final was contested by Montpellier and Leicester - 12 months before they both became domestic champions. That should give Gloucester fans some hope.
1 Go to commentsgreat article - although I can’t help wonder whether the more relevant debate over coming years will be between Ford and Fin Smith!
31 Go to comments