The 24-year-old will assume the captaincy for the three matches that the Blues will play in November against Argentina (6th at Stade de France), Georgia (14th in Bordeaux) and New Zealand (20th at Stade de France). He replaces Charles Ollivon, injured. For franceinfo rugby consultant Guy Accoceberry, this is not necessarily a good idea.
franceinfo: What do you think of this appointment?
Guy Accoceberry: A list of five players had been prepared. Personally, out of the five who were appointed, I would not have put Antoine at the top of the list. The staff surely have their arguments. But compared to what he is already giving on the field, it is to put him an additional responsibility. He has shoulders broad enough, perhaps, to take them on. We will see that in the matches to come.
Are we asking too much? He must score the tries, be decisive, make the right pass and now, be captain.
I think that’s a lot, even if he has broad shoulders, even if, as everyone says, currently he is the best player in the world. But from there to give him in addition this responsibility of captaincy, which he does not have in Toulouse, which is a real burden … Being captain of the France team is not trivial. It means additional media coverage, it means speaking more in the group, being a relay with the staff. There are a lot of parameters to master.
Indeed, we can be surprised because from the outside, we see him more as someone quite shy, introverted. And there, he will have to win against a group.
There is also all the media load, the press conferences, the solicitations which will be even greater. That is perhaps an argument on which the staff reflected by saying to themselves: we also need, in view of the World Cup which arrives in two years, a player to highlight, a “gondola head” , like the French football team in M’Bappé. Putting Antoine Dupont captain will put even more spotlight on the player and therefore on the France team. It is perhaps a roundabout way of attracting even more light towards the XV of France.
It might also be, and it would be a good surprise, to continue to make him grow, even if he is already high, at the height of his art. Currently, he is the Superman of French rugby. That is undeniable. And he is only 24 years old!