An expectation that had raised many questions.
Antoine Dupont has not played since December 11 when Stade Toulousain won against the Cardiff Blues (7-39) in the Champions Cup.
A meeting during which he had (again) been decisive by scoring a remarkable try.
Since then, nothing… The international scrum-half (25 years old, 35 selections) had to deal with several glitches: a flu-like condition then an infiltration in the knee at the end of the year and finally a positive test for Covid a week ago.
A total of 49 days without playing which will end this Saturday on the occasion of the reception of Racing 92 (9:05 p.m.) in Ernest-Wallon.
End of the tunnel.
To discover
Schedule and Top 14 results
Ranking Top 14
Read alsoXV of France: "There will be fewer surprises on the team compositions", assures Laurent Labit
The announcement of the composition of the Rouge et Noir against the Parisians confirmed his return on the occasion of the 16th day of the Top 14. In a pre-match press conference, Jean Bouilhou hoped that "everyone will be able to play this match": "We did not necessarily count on them and it is a little balm to the heart to say that we will be able to count on some."
Stade Toulousain is finally filling up with the returns of other key elements who had been positive: opener Romain Ntamack and prop Cyril Baille will start on Saturday against the Ile-de-France.
And third-line Anthony Jelonch will start on the substitutes bench.
Galthié and Labit reassuring
The staff of the XV of France can also breathe. Last week, the one who has just been voted the best player in the world – and who had been named captain in the absence of Charles Ollivon – was one of ten Toulouse residents who tested positive. No match against Cardiff (lost on green carpet) but also no summons for the preparation course for the Blues Tournament. During the week, the tricolor coach Fabien Galthié was nevertheless reassuring:
“I got it, we exchanged, it is fine. He has been back in training for two weeks now. He wanted to play
(against Cardiff in the Champions Cup)
, but he tested positive for Covid. But he's fine, he's still training."
Same confidence on the side of Laurent Labit, assistant in charge of the backs, who argues that Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, his hinge partner,
"will be, from this Sunday, again with us, ready and operational."
After this resumption match against the Sky and White, Antoine Dupont should therefore join the gathering of the Blues on Sunday and prepare for the first match of the Six Nations Tournament, on February 6, against Italy at the Stade de France.
