Dupont trains with headguard ahead of Boks match

France captain and No 9 Antoine Dupont trained with a headguard on Wednesday ahead of this Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash with the Springboks in Paris.

Dupont is on his way back from a serious cheekbone injury and fractured eye-socket, picked up in the pool match against Namibia on September 21.

While the inspirational scrumhalf has been given the all-clear to play again, following surgery, the French team said earlier this week they would manage the player “intelligently” before sending him straight back into action.

Wednesday’s French training session was the second in which Dupont participated in since getting the all-clear to train.

Vision

“We wanted to check if the headguard impacted his vision,” forwards coach Laurent Labit told reporters on Tuesday.

“His hearing too, even if (training ground) Rueil-Malmaison doesn’t have the same sound or atmosphere as the Stade de France.

“A decision (on whether Dupont will feature against the Boks) will be made at the end of the week,” he added.

Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said they were preparing to face Dupont, 26, in the big quarter-final clash on Sunday.

“A lack of fitness won’t be a problem for him. The surgeon cleared him. I have no doubt he will play. It will be a big challenge for us to try and contain him,” said Erasmus on Tuesday night.

France will name their team to face the World Cup holders on Friday. The Boks also name their team on Friday.