The Springboks have indicated that they would be more than happy to see Antoine Dupont back on the field for France in their World Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
France scrumhalf Dupont, one of the best in the world in his position, has not featured since suffering a facial bone fracture in the pool match against Namibia on 21 September.
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The injury required Dupont to go under the knife in order to stand any chance of recovering in time for the playoffs.
The 26-year-old was cleared to resume full training by his surgeon on Monday, in a significant step towards facing South Africa in the quarter-finals.
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Springbok scrum coach Daan Human talked up Dupont’s return.
“He’s a wonderful player and they have the most dominant pack in World Rugby. They’re unbelievably good,” Human said.
“Having a world-class number nine behind them is good and also, having all the best players available at the World Cup is also very good.
“Hopefully, he’ll be on the field for them so that the world can see one of the best players in the world.”
Human added that the Boks won’t be targeting Dupont, as they realise that France pose plenty of threats away from their star halfback.
“We will never concentrate on only one player, it’s more on the system and more on the whole team,” Human said. “You can get carried away if you concentrate on one guy and you’re missing the next guy.
“We will stay in our system and do what we will do.”
Photo: SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP