Simon Says...
THE Pope is in France this weekend and thelocals willbe requesting a special-prayer forAntoine Dupont.There is minute-by-minutecoverage here as a nation holdsits breath.
Dupont’ sin jury has been front page news for two days . Localpaper shave been printingcomputer generated images of maxillo- zygomatic fracture sand seeking comment from specialist surgeons. Suddenly the entirecountry is an expert in facial anatomy.
Most of France shared Dupont’stears when hetrudged offholding his face on Thursdaynight. They desperately needtheir captainback.
Dupont’s team are favourites toreach the finalbut a knockoutmatch against Ireland or South-Africa feels like a far moredauntingassignment withouttheir talismanic No 9.
Since 2019, the hosts have won87 percent oftheir games withDupont and 64 percentwithouthim. He went for surgery at
11 pm on Friday and there is agrowingnarrative that he couldmake a miraculouscome back forthe quarter-final.
That will take bloody mindedness andbraverybecause, by rushing back, hewould beat riskofre-injury.He seems determined however,posting on socialmediayesterday:‘ Hit but notsunk.’
Dupont is arguably thecountry’s most globally admiredathlete since ZinedineZidane.You do not need to be an expertin rugby toappreciate hisartistry; watching him in fullflow is worthy of a place on anysports bucketlist.
If the prayers are answeredand he lift the World Cup he will eclipse GarethEdwards as the greatest of alltime.
LET’ S hope more coaches joinSimon Raiwalui on X, formerly-Twitter . Fiji’ s performancedirector has been sharingbehind- the- scenesaccess fromcamp , from the players’favourite curry prawns tomessages left by hotel staff . Hehas also used the platform forreasoned and balanceddebate ,including a graceful dressingdown of formerWallaby DrewMitchell for his clumsypodcastdiatribe. It is social media usageat its best. Ifonly others were askeen to open the doors.
TWENTY percent of England’ sstarting XV yesterday will bein eligible for nationalselectionafter the World Cup . Jack Willis ,David Rib ban sand HenryA run dell have signedcontract sin France and will be off limits.
It is adamning reflection on thelack ofcollaboration between cluband country. Thatmay explainwhy a French journalist receivedaticking-off for his persistentbut reasonableline of questioningon the subject last week.
Dupont is France’s most globally admired athlete since Zidane