France captain Antoine Dupont has undergone surgery on a facial injury and will be returning to the Rugby World Cup squad for his recovery. The 26-year-old sustained the injury during a match against Namibia when he clashed heads with opposing captain Johan Deysel. Dupont underwent surgery at Toulouse’s CHU Purpan and will now gradually recover under medical supervision.
Unfortunately, no timeline has been provided for Dupont’s return to playing, which is a blow to the French team who are already without fly-half Romain Ntamack due to injury. France’s next match is against Italy on October 6, and it is expected that Dupont will miss at least that game.
Coach Fabien Galthié now has to make a decision on who will replace Dupont as the team’s captain. He will have to choose between Baptiste Couilloud and Maxime Lucu, both capable players who will need to step up in Dupont’s absence.
Dupont’s absence is a significant loss for France, as the team has had great success with him on the field. In fact, they have won 27 out of 31 tests with Dupont playing, but have lost four out of 11 games in his absence. The team’s assistant coach, Laurent Labit, expressed concern over Dupont’s injury but also stated that they won’t be making any plans too soon.
As the captain of the team, Dupont’s absence will undoubtedly be felt, but his teammates are confident in their abilities and are prepared to step up in his absence. The French squad remains determined and focused as they continue their journey in the Rugby World Cup. Only time will tell how long Dupont will be out of action, but the team remains hopeful for his speedy recovery and return to the field.
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