Scrum half, flyhalf, second center or fullback: Antoine Dupont
“could be international in four positions”
, estimated his Toulouse coach Ugo Mola before the Champions Cup round of 16 against Racing 92 on Sunday, for which Thomas Ramos is uncertain. The decision will only be made at the last minute for Ramos, victim of a contusion to the iliac crest in the Top 14 against Bordeaux-Bègles on March 24.
“We will not take any risks
,” Mola said at a press conference on Thursday.
“Beyond the decisive match against Racing, we are in April and losing Thomas until the end of the season would perhaps be stupidity”
.
“His feelings are very positive
,” he added about the one who can play as an opener or as a full-back.
“We try to manage as best as possible both the impatience, the risk and the capacity of having a major player in our squad on the field
. ”
“Whether it’s 9, 10, 13 or 15, he could be international in all four positions”
The presence or not of Ramos will have a significant impact on Toulouse's starting XV on Sunday at Ernest-Wallon, which must be communicated early Friday afternoon. Recovered from his serious knee injury, could Romain Ntamack be lined up from the start, just one week after his – promising – return to Top 14 competition against Pau?
Or will Dupont, usual scrum half, play again in 10, his training position, as in the last two championship matches?
“For us, he is a player who does not really have a position as soon as the game gets carried away
,” commented Mola.
“Antoine has this ability to be able to play at a very high level on a regular basis, regardless of the number on his back
. ”
Read alsoParis 2024: Antoine Dupont, conductor of French Olympic hopes
“We have the idea of having him play elsewhere as soon as he returns from the Olympics
,” said the Toulouse coach.
“Whether it’s 9, 10, 13 or 15, he could be international in all four positions
. ”
“I enjoy playing 9 as much as 10
,” said the person concerned.
“Afterwards, once the game starts, even if it’s obviously not the same position, we all try to play the same rugby, to no longer necessarily calculate with the number on our backs,”
said underlined Dupont.
“As long as I’m on the pitch, everything suits me
,” assured the Blues star.
“The experience did me good rugby-wise and mentally”
The captain of the French XV also looked back on his successful stint with the French 7s team, which won the Los Angeles stage of the world circuit.
“The experience did me good rugby-wise and mentally. Discovering something new, a new adventure, discovering new things, also putting myself in danger and getting out of my comfort zone did me good,
appreciates Dupont.
And having two weeks was a great chance because that never happens during a season so I hope it will put me in good shape for the end of the season.
And added:
“The training, the efforts I made by making more accelerations, changes of pace, support, long races, surely helped me to get back into the game of duels a little. that I had a little more before.”