The scrum half of the XV of France, pillar of the French’s good results for four years, suffered a broken jaw against Namibia on Thursday. Operated on Friday evening, he sees the rest of his World Cup written in dotted lines.
By announcing in a press release, Saturday September 23, that Antoine Dupont “was operated on September 22 around 11 p.m. at Purpan University Hospital in Toulouse” and “in a few days, he will (…) be able to return to the French team in a process of progressive sporting resumption and under medical supervision”, the French Rugby Federation has given some hope to the French XV and its supporters. As a leader, the captain has set his course: return to the group, while, in his column in the Daily Mail, defense coach Shaun Edwards believes that“He would be very surprised if he was not available for the quarter-finals or semi-finals.”
The injury to number 9 of the Blues, at the heart of the XXL card against Namibia (96-0) on Thursday, had relegated the victory to the background. His release caused a wave of concern. The announcement of his “maxillo-zygomatic” fracture on Friday had dampened the generally good atmosphere and legitimate sporting hopes. If the duration of his absence is still unknown, the prospect of a forfeit for the next decisive match for qualification against Italy (October 6), then for the decisive meetings of the XV of France starting with the quarter-final , is real. An absence which could weigh very heavily in the quest for the planetary title.
Because he is the undisputed conductor of the Blues
The coach of the XV of France, Fabien Galthié, can count on many talented players, from the pyrotechnician Thomas Ramos to the insatiable finisher Damian Penaud. But this offensive symphony only really took shape under the orders of Antoine Dupont. The 26-year-old is a virtuoso, best player of the year 2021 according to the International Rugby Federation, or even best player in three of the last four editions of the Six Nations Tournament.
The French number 9 is both the brain and the creative spark of a very playful French team. He can be the playmaker capable of creating for others, particularly at the foot like his service for Damian Penaud’s first try on Thursday against Namibia. But also the defensive dynamiter, always ready to look for the intervals and constitute a danger with his races. He knows how to adapt his game to the circumstances of the matches. During the victory against the All Blacks, it was he who made the most passes (41) on the French side, before being the one who advanced the furthest with the ball in hand (71 meters) during his first period against the All Blacks. Namibia. Since the serious injury to his alter ego of the hinge, Romain Ntamack, before the competition, even more responsibilities weigh on the shoulders of Antoine Dupont.
Because the Blues look different with and without him
Irreplaceable by his rare talent, Antoine Dupont is equally so by his style of play. In the hierarchy of scrum halves, his current number one replacement, Maxime Lucu, is a player safer than a particle accelerator. Another number 9 in the group of 33 at this World Cup, Baptiste Couilloud is closer to the profile of Antoine Dupont through the liveliness of his support and his accelerations. But the Lyonnais lacks experience at a very high level, whether at club level (six Champions Cup matches) or with the French team for whom he has only started five times.
With Antoine Dupont and many other executives rested, the XV of France stammered its rugby as rarely during its second match against Uruguay, offering a mixture of collective play. With the Toulouse player at the helm, the Tricolores offer another face and another record: more than 70% of victories in 51 selections. As the toughest matches approach, Baptiste Couilloud has only three victories in eight caps against teams from “Tier 1” of world rugby (Australia, England, Scotland, Wales in particular). Maxime Lucu only started for the Blues against Japan, Fiji and Uruguay, but has one figure in his favor: the French XV has never lost in his 17 caps.
Because he is the respected captain of a group on a mission
“There are players who inspire inside the group, but also outside the group. Antoine is one of these figures.” The tribute signed by coach Fabien Galthié, on November 20, 2020, is enough to understand the full weight of Antoine Dupont within this XV of France. It is also not insignificant if the Toulouse had retained the role of captain of the Blues, despite the return among the holders of the former holder of the armband, Charles Ollivon. “He doesn’t talk a lot but he speaks wisely, he manages to motivate his troops, he always has the right word with the confidence that goes well with conveying emotions,” mentioned the third row François Cros Thursday evening in Marseille.
After the overwhelming victory against Namibia and the certainties found in the game, the Tricolores nevertheless looked gloomy. “We know what the group exudes, said Cyril Baille. It’s a lot of stress, he still took a big hit. It wasn’t a party in the locker room.” Because in addition to its technical leader, the XV of France may have lost one of its engines in the quest for a first world champion title. And a reason to tremble for the other contenders. Without the one that Guardian qualified for “face of France 2023“, France “can say goodbye to his World Cup hopes” even estimates the New Zealand specialist media Stuff.