There were five of them and in the end there was only one left. In balance with four other leaders of the XV of France, the scrum half Antoine Dupont was promoted captain for the autumn tests, Monday, October 25. The Toulousain took advantage of the absence of the usual holder of the role Charles Ollivon, injured, announced Monday the French Rugby Federation (FFR).
It is moreover the latter who ensured the transfer of power, yesterday, in front of the France group meeting in Marcoussis (Essonne). Antoine Dupont, who punctually fulfills this function in Toulouse, will assume the captaincy for the three matches that the Blues will play in November against Argentina (the 6th at the Stade de France), Georgia (the 14th in Bordeaux) and New Zealand. (the 20th at the Stade de France).
At his side, Gaël Fickou, Grégory Alldritt, Julien Marchand and Anthony Jelonch were all likely to lead the Blues in the absence of the third line of Toulon Ollivon, victim in June of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee.
But it will be the Toulouse scrum half at the controls. “It is no surprise knowing that he is one of the best players in the group since the start of the season, that he occupies a position of responsibility and that he is a natural leader, believes the ex-scrum-half of the XV of France, Dimitri Yachvili, for franceinfo: sport. It was only his age that could put the brakes on a bit, but his maturity on the pitch took precedence over the rest.“
Antoine Dupont is the captain of #XVdeFrance for the Autumn Tour of the Blues!
Raphaël Ibañez and Fabien Galthié announced it to the group this afternoon in the presence of Charles Ollivon.
well done @ Dupont9A #NotLet’sXV pic.twitter.com/NhoWAZt208
– France Rugby (@FranceRugby) October 25, 2021
Already essential in the French team by his performances, the native of Lannemezan (Hautes-Pyrénées) takes a little more pride, by being named captain of the XV of France for the first time.
At a press conference to announce the 42 men selected for the autumn tour, Fabien Galthié, the coach, and Raphaël Ibañez, the manager of the Blues, were discreet about the captain for the tour. Raphaël Ibanez then listed several criteria to be able to inherit this prestigious position: performance, generosity, humility, loyalty. Boxes all ticked by Antoine Dupont (32 selections), starting with the first.
The name of the native of the Hautes-Pyrénées, considered one of the best players in the world for two seasons, is undoubtedly the first written down on paper by coach Fabien Galthié, himself a former scrum half, at the time of establish your team composition.
Indisputably sportingly, this bulimic of rugby also has for him his tactical science, according to his teammate in Toulouse Thibaud Flament: “He understands the game well and has the lucidity and hindsight to realize what is going on and tell us about it on the pitch. He also knows how to motivate us. He speaks well, he feels the group well. He has a nice palette. “
Scrum-half Antoine Dupont has been promoted to captain of the XV de France for the fall tests, in the absence of Charles Ollivon who is injured, announced the French Rugby Federation (FFR) #AFP pic.twitter.com/citHgpZ0GA
– Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) October 25, 2021
The most experienced player in the France group, Fickou (27 years old, 63 caps) seemed for a time to hold the rope for the captaincy. The three-quarter center of Racing 92 had even applied, saying in an interview with AFP that he was “time for (him) to take responsibility”.
He was finally capped at the post by Dupont, that the staff could have been tempted to protect as he is already the subject of enormous expectations in the France team. The scrum-half, who benefits from a good relationship with the referees, now seems to have shoulders broad enough to take on the pressure and his status as an international star. “When you see what he shows on the pitch, he is exemplary. I am not so on a daily basis with his club but he exudes a lot of serenity and great personal qualities” continues Dimitri Yachvili.
“Maybe rugby needs such a standard bearer. A boy who is not into escapades, into grand declarations. Who is just a nice 24 year old dude.”, said of him last season his Toulouse coach Ugo Mola.
Until now rather discreet in the media, the Occitan is more and more in demand. From Quotidien to Clique, it starts to show up where you don’t expect it. While he is already recognized by his peers, he seems to be taking the path to also become a media leader, while French rugby is struggling to find a world-renowned figurehead since the advents of Frédéric Michalak and Sébastien Chabal. Dupont, very attached to his native southwestern region, will be even more exposed in the coming weeks. Even beyond if Ollivon is not delivered in time for the Six Nations Tournament.
“The extra charge that this captain’s role demands is the relationship with the media, analysis Dimitri Yachvili, captain twice in the jersey struck the rooster. He will have new appointments with the media, it can be extra pressure. But he will be well surrounded and I think he will work to the maximum not to leave too much energy in there. It is often there that one can lose some ” concludes “the Yach”.