By choosing to move away from the Blues for a year, Dupont was able to digest his World Cup and avoid a form of additional pressure, accentuated by some controversies. His return is eagerly awaited.
Among his confessions during Rugby Night, there was this one, when Antoine Dupont was questioned about his upcoming return with the XV of France: “I left this team a little over a year ago now. Obviously I’m longing for it but I’ll have to get back in shape.” On this point, there is little doubt that the person concerned will quickly regain his full physical potential. Firstly because he has a unique athletic “heritage” allowing him to save time on preparation. Then, because he is not the type to be completely “unemployed” on his leave and the Toulouse captain spoke, even coming to spend a few days training with his partners on the Ernest-Wallon side. In short, we might as well destroy the suspense right away: barring injury, number 9 will be present with the Blues during the November tour. For a time, the rumor of a possible freelance in Japan during this season had circulated, but Dupont had warned the coach Fabien Galthié that he would be available for the fall of 2024 and the 6 Nations Tournament 2025, de facto ruling out this possibility . In this case, it will be an event for him to return to the national team at XV, his last appearance in this jersey dating back to the famous quarter-final lost against South Africa in October 2023. Everyone necessarily remembers the controversies born of his statements after the match (see opposite), punctuating a competition that was so painful on a personal level. Enough to offend his relationship with the French XV jersey? Absolutely not, as he constantly repeats how much he aims to win international titles, with the 2027 World Cup inevitably in his sights… But we must also recognize that his step back has done him a world of good. If he had postponed his final decision until the end of 2023, Dupont never does things at random and had clearly anticipated his temporary withdrawal from the Blues to give himself the best chance of succeeding in his VII adventure. This had been validated by the Federation, the LNR and the leaders of Stade Toulouse. “The plan was made a year and a half in advance”confirmed Ugo Mola in these columns. The Haut-Pyrénées therefore confirmed to Galthié his choice not to participate in the 2024 6 Nations Tournament, which was not unanimous among certain observers or part of the general public. And if the coach, aware of the trauma left by the setback against the Boks and worried about the start that awaited his men in the Tournament against Ireland, sought to make him change his mind (at least for the start of competition), Dupont stuck to its positions. He was convinced that it was the right solution.
Will he regain the captaincy with the Blues?
Concerning him, the facts proved him right. By moving away from a context where the pressure was maximum (even more on his person), or even overwhelming as during the disappointing first half of the Tournament, the former Castres benefited from an immense breathing space. Which seemed beneficial at this moment in his career. “After a World Cup where he was exposed, overexposed and thrown out to pasture by the environment of the time, he did not make the Tournament, stored up some mental freshness and took us with him”also assured Mola. This is certainly what the French staff now expects of him. As he has proven in recent months, Dupont has completely digested the disappointment of 2023 and has stayed away from the numerous controversies which have punctuated the news of the XV of France. In his absence, it was one of his best friends, namely the Rochelais Grégory Alldritt, who had inherited the armband, and today it is a question of knowing whether or not he will recover this responsibility. From what we know, the question arose internally, particularly in relation to what happened a year ago. But the Toulouse player is not a player like any other, on and off the field. Whether he finally regains the captaincy or not, he now has – beyond his undeniable and incomparable talent – an aura and even a sunny side which should bring incredible benefits to this selection after the storm weathered this summer. He is the leading figure of French rugby who, full of enthusiasm for his return to business, must help it get back on the right track, sportingly and in terms of image.
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