FRANCE V SOUTH AFRICA Paris, Sunday, 8pm, ITV
France’s medical and coaching staff have spent those same three weeks holding their captain back.
To the outside world it has appeared that Dupont has been in a battle to be ready face South Africa in Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final.
Inside Les Bleus’ camp, however, the struggle has been to stop Dupont from returning to action straight away.
Dupont suffered his broken cheekbone in France’s 96-0 thrashing of Namibia on September 21.
Just 24 days later, and the world’s best player will be back in action at the World Cup, ready to drive the hosts forward.
The most remarkable element of his rapid recovery is not the refusal to accept the extent of the injury, nor the speed of surgery to insert a plate into his face.
This story is from the October 13, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
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This story is from the October 13, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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