The boss is back. A highly anticipated return, both by rugby fans and by Stade Toulouse, which remains on two consecutive losses in the Top 14. Antoine Dupont will return to the Top 14 pitches this Saturday, three and a half months after his last championship match, which took him to the Shield of Brennus. He will be on the bench at kick-off, with the number 21 on his back.
Photographers and journalists were a little more numerous than usual to attend the first session of the week on Monday on the annex grounds of the Ernest-Wallon stadium. As unpredictable as in a match, Dupont surprised everyone by arriving from behind, a few minutes after the main body, as if to maintain a suspense that no longer really existed as he had made no secret of his desire to play again. “The first person to be happy about this return is obviously him. After two and a half months, he was a little fed up,” laughs his teammate Dimitri Delibes.
Celebrations, United States and television
The star scrum half, however, has not remained fan-toed since he helped the Bleus du VII to win France’s first gold medal at the Olympics, on July 27, the day after the ceremony opening. A consecration worthily celebrated, from the Champs-Elysées in Paris to the Place du Capitole in Toulouse, alongside the other local idol Léon Marchand.
We also saw him receive his usual share of individual distinctions during Rugby Night at the Olympia; in the United States with LeBron James, Blaise Matuidi, Lionel Messi and the Chargers American football team, and on TV recently in the France 2 show “Lesencontres du Papotin”.
Training even during vacation
To the surprise of his staff, Dupont has since made several appearances at Stade Toulouse training, during his time off. The testimony of his professionalism and a certain “form of obligation”, according to his coach Ugo Mola. “The more he advances, the more he pushes the cursor where mediocrity, or neutral performance, will be criticized,” explains the manager of the Rouge et Noir. He knows it and he must work accordingly. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why he doesn’t hang around too much on vacation. »
The Olympic champion, considered one of the best rugby players in the world, returned already visibly sharp, which allows him an express recovery, with the prospect of the November tests of the French XV against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina.
Trust and “banana” in the group
His return is timely for Toulouse after two consecutive defeats against Bordeaux-Bègles (16-12), the first at home since February 2022, then at Castres (28-23) last weekend. “Antoine, because of his performances, no longer needs to be introduced,” said Mola. But beyond that, it is the 10 or 15% that he gives to all his partners through the trust that he arouses, that he generates and which reflects on others. This thing should not be underestimated. »
“It gives the group a bit of a boost,” confirms Delibes. He is one of the leaders of the team. He always has the right word, always the right advice. » Dupont, in addition, does not return alone, but in the company of another Toulouse executive, the versatile Argentinian international fullback Juan Cruz Mallia, who is finished with the Rugby Championship. “It’s good to see both again. They bring that confidence and that little extra,” appreciates young second row Joshua Brennan.
The return to business of “Superdupont” does not necessarily make everyone happy. The flyhalf of Clermont’s opponents this weekend, Benjamin Urdapilleta, was moved, with humor, at the microphone of Sud Radio: “He couldn’t have waited one more week? We’re out of luck…”
