The captain of the France team will see his surgeon next Monday, who will authorize him or not to return to training in a “progressive” manner to be able to apply for a possible quarter-final.
There are still three important steps to take. The captain of the XV of France Antoine Dupont will pass “a Monday visit with his surgeon”an essential prerequisite for a return to full training, which could open the possibility of his participation in a possible quarter-final of the World Cup, the medical management of the Blues announced on Tuesday, October 3.
“As long as we do not have medical advice, he will not be able to resume rugby. If there is the green light and the prerequisites, there will be a gradual resumption”detailed the health manager of the Blues Bruno Boussagol at a press conference.
“Everything is going normally with Antoine”
“He joined the group this weekend: on Sunday, he was in training with the medical part. We quickly moved on to running exercises. Everything is going normally with Antoine. Next step, there is a visit on Monday with his surgeon for a final check. We are waiting for the surgeon’s opinion to see what we can consider for a possible return to a quarter-final.”added the head physiotherapist of the Blues.
Victim of a broken jaw during the Blues’ record victory against Namibia (96-0) on September 21, the scrum half (26 years old, 51 caps) was operated on the next day. He met his teammates overnight from Saturday to Sunday in Aix-en-Provence, where they are preparing for the match against Italy in Lyon.
Sunday and Monday, he contented himself with exercises on training bikes (Wattbike) or a rowing machine, after having followed a series of races and passes, without contact, all smiles despite a bruise under his right eye.
Authorization, apprehension, choice: the three obligatory steps for his return
After the meeting on Monday, he will “We’ll have to see how he reacts: will he have all his abilities and no apprehension?”explained Boussagol again. The third step is the choice of coaches, who will make the final decision after an interview with Antoine.detailed the health manager.
The return of the leading figure of French rugby is hoped for the quarter-finals (if France qualifies on Friday against Italy), on October 14 or 15 against either South Africa, reigning world champion, evening Ireland, world number 1 nation, or Scotland.