--- title: "France captain Dupont bounces back to start against South Africa in RWC quarterfinal" description: "France revealed their hand by naming talismanic captain Antoine Dupont to start the Rugby World Cup 2023 quarterfinal against South Africa." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "TACTICAL SHOWDOWN" author: "Julien Pretot" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/julien-pretot/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-10-13-france-captain-dupont-bounces-back-to-start-against-south-africa-in-rwc-quarterfinal/" published: "2023-10-13T14:19:30" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 608 --- # France captain Dupont bounces back to start against South Africa in RWC quarterfinal > France revealed their hand by naming talismanic captain Antoine Dupont to start the Rugby World Cup 2023 quarterfinal against South Africa. By Julien Pretot · Published 13 October 2023, 16:19 SAST ## Key points - Antoine Dupont's return to the French side for their quarter-final clash against South Africa promises to add a tactical twist to the Stade de France showdown. - Antoine Dupont to start for France against South Africa in World Cup quarter-final - Maxime Lucu to move to the bench after standing in brilliantly for Dupont - South Africa have sprung a few surprises with their line-up - France and South Africa last met in November 2019, with Les Bleus winning 30-26 ## Content Antoine Dupont will start for France in Sunday’s quarter-final clash against South Africa after [recovering from surgery on a broken cheekbone](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-10-09-france-skipper-dupont-cleared-to-resume-playing-ahead-of-critical-springboks-clash/) in a massive boost for the hosts ahead of what could turn out to be a tactical battle at the Stade de France. The mercurial scrumhalf missed Les Bleus’ final Pool A game against Italy and while he was not needed in a 60-7 demolition of the Azzurri, the captain’s presence against the defending champions will offer a confidence boost and add danger to Fabien Galthie’s side. The 26-year-old’s return, three weeks after a head-on-head collision with Namibia’s Johan Deysel sent him to hospital, pushes Maxime Lucu back onto the bench after he stood in brilliantly for Dupont alongside flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert. ![Maxime Lucu of France will be benched as Antoine Dupont makes his return. (Photo: Christian Liewig - Corbis/Getty Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/pgUD9l3koOoG3eJnW40UyecC_ak=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/RWC-France-team-3.jpg) *Maxime Lucu. (Photo: Christian Liewig - Corbis/Getty Images)* “I feel great. I’m in possession of all my capabilities — technical and physical,” Dupont told a press conference on Friday. “I thought the tournament was over for me. After the surgery, I started to have hope and then I had a good recovery and went through all the steps, had the chance to have several weeks to complete the process,” Dupont, who added he was highly likely to wear a protective helmet at the Stade de France, explained. “I have no apprehension.” [YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojRMoIadyCo) Galthie said that Dupont’s comeback was not rushed and that a strict protocol was followed. “Amidst all the pressure surrounding Antoine and his injury, we were very calm. We did not force anything and went through a process with the medical staff, Antoine and his surgeon,” he said. South Africa sprung a few surprises with their line-up, with Manie Libbok and Cobus Reinach occupying the halfback positions and a 5-3 forward-back split on the bench — a big shift from the 7-1 split coach Jacques Nienaber chose for their Pool B clash against Ireland. **Read more in Daily Maverick:**[Boks go for three backs on bench to face France in World Cup quarterfinal](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-10-13-boks-vs-france-sa-go-for-three-backs-on-bench-for-quarterfinal/) Galthie, instead, opted to put six forwards instead of five on the bench as he looks to cope with the Springboks’ power and skill up front. “It is a very precise tactical approach (by South Africa),” Galthie said. “They always have a well-thought plan depending on who they are facing. They have been looking into everything and I think they've been looking into us a lot. “Their 5-3 choice is tactical. It's a chess game. This morning we were thinking about what we could propose ourselves. We're entering a world of strategy and tactics, and we're relishing the challenge.” ![Head Coach of France Fabien Galthie. (Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images))](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/EekzTteJydjpi6Utb_6lxkS0iu4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/RWC-France-team-4.jpg) *Head Coach of France Fabien Galthie. (Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images)* **Read more in Daily Maverick:**[Rugby World Cup News Hub](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/springbok-rugby-world-cup-2023-news-results/) France won the last meeting between the two teams, 30-26 last November, while South Africa prevailed 19-15 in their last World Cup encounter, in the 1995 semi-finals. Les Bleus, who won all their pool games, starting with a [27-13 victory against New Zealand](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-09-09-france-live-up-to-expectations-after-condemning-the-all-blacks-to-another-unwanted-first-at-rwc-2023/), are facing their second huge test of the tournament against a team they had not beaten since 2009 before last year. “They’ve been worthy world champions, they have inspired us and we have been trying to understand them — their vision, the way they unite a nation,” said Galthie. “For us, the goal is to play rugby, simply, and enjoy it, with ambition. We cannot wait for it.” **Reuters/DM** **Team:** 15-Thomas Ramos, 14-Damian Penaud, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Jonathan Danty, 11-Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10-Matthieu Jalibert, 9-Antoine Dupont (cap.), 8-Gregory Alldritt, 7-Charles Ollivon, 6-Anthony Jelonch, 5-Thibaud Flament, 4-Cameron Woki, 3-Uini Atonio, 2-Peato Mauvaka, 1-Cyril Baille. **Reserves:** 16-Pierre Bourgarit, 17-Reda Wardi, 18-Dorian Aldegheri, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Francois Cros, 21-Sekou Macalou, 22-Maxime Lucu, 23-Yoram Moefana