Springboks warned about Dupont’s face: ‘If you touch his head, it’s a red card’

The France captain, who is regarded as one of the greatest players in world rugby, sustained a facial fracture in the comprehensive 96-0 victory over Namibia in their third World Cup fixture putting him in doubt for their knockout match against the Springboks.

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However, both Dupont and the French team explored every avenue to get him back in time for the quarter-final, with Midi Olympique even reporting that he had met with a specialist to mould a protective face mask that adheres to World Rugby’s regulations.

Earlier this week it was confirmed by French Rugby Federation that “following his medical visit with the surgeon who operated on him, Antoine Dupont obtained authorisation to resume rugby training.”

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SPRINGBOKS WARNED TO KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF DUPONT

And now, just three days out from the much-anticipated quarter-final showdown, back rower Gregory Alldritt has fired a warning shot against South Africa to refrain from making any contact with Dupont’s head/face area or run the risk of the harshest in-game punished by the match officials: a red card.

“We know that in rugby, if you touch the head, it’s a red card,” said Alldritt told RugbyPass. “He [Dupont] saw his surgeon who gave him the green light.

“Antoine is an intelligent, sensible person. If he says he can play again, it’s because he’s fully fit.”

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FRANCE CAPTAIN ANTOINE DUPONT