Dupont-less France near full strength
France have made just two changes to their starting lineup for their final Pool A match against Italy in Lyon on Friday.
France have made just two changes to their starting lineup for their final Pool A match against Italy in Lyon on Friday.
Ange Capuozzo has reverted to fullback as Italy named a reshuffled backline for their crucial Pool A clash against hosts France in Lyon on Friday.
Antoine Dupont will be assessed by the surgeon who operated on his fractured cheekbone before staff decide if he can return for a possible World Cup quarter-final.
Antoine Dupont looks ready for action after the France captain rejoined the World Cup hosts’ squad following surgery on a fractured cheekbone a week ago.
France captain Antoine Dupont has rejoined the World Cup hosts’ squad a week after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone, the French federation have announced.
The latest update on France captain Antoine Dupont is “reassuring”, according to team doctor Bruno Boussagol, who said he hoped for a “quick return” to World Cup action for the talismanic scrumhalf.
Namibia’s Johan Deysel has been suspended for at least five matches for the brutal tackle on Antoine Dupont that resulted in the France captain suffering a fractured cheekbone.
France have taken a subtle swipe at South Africa ahead of their potential World Cup quarter-final clash by saying the Springboks are not “supermen”.
Antoine Dupont is set to meet a specialist over designing a mask that would allow him to play for France in the World Cup quarter-finals.
France defence guru Shaun Edwards says he would be “very surprised” if Antoine Dupont is not back for the World Cup quarter-finals after the scrumhalf’s surgery.