Although the Roosters are well aware of the fact that rugby is a contact sport, one does not have to be a master detective to read Grégory Alldritt’s between-the-lines warning.
Antoine Dupont is back on the training field after the 26-year-old scrum-half cracked his cheekbone against Namibia earlier in the tournament.
“Antoine is an intelligent and sensible person. If he tells you that he can play again, then it is because he is completely healthy and fit,” said the French loose forward.
However, he also had a warning, if you like, ready for France’s opponents.
“In rugby, when you hit a player’s head, it’s a red card. He saw his surgeon who gave him the green light to become part of the action again.”
Vlok Cilliers, France’s kicking coach, told RNews earlier that Dupont’s return is a big boost for the French.
“His return means an incredible amount to the players. He is our captain, an excellent leader and World Rugby’s player of the year,” said the former Springbok.
However, he knows that other teams will not necessarily handle Dupont with gloves simply because he has recovered from an injury.
“Rugby is a contact sport and there will always be injuries in a game.
Alldritt believes that the Springboks will come up with a physical onslaught.
“Their DNA is modeled on physical rugby; therefore we will have to play with the necessary attitude for more than 80 minutes.”
The two teams’ previous matchup was in November last year when the South Africans refused to play at the Stade Velodrome; despite Pieter-Steph du Toit’s red card.
“We saw in Marseille that the Springboks never give up. So we were warned. But as a team we are now in the crosshairs of the tournament – the players have worked hard for four years and we want to enjoy the game.”
