The recent criticism of Antoine Dupont was hardly appreciated by the management of the XV of France.
The players of the French XV have still not digested their failure in the quarter-finals of the World Cup against South Africa. They recognize it without difficulty. “It shows, the guys are not in their best shape. It takes more time before we can move on”confided Uini Atonio in the columns of The Teamadding: “It’s going to stay for a very long time, maybe my whole life. »
Captain of the Blues, Antoine Dupont is undoubtedly the best illustration of the difficulties of the French internationals since the resumption. The Toulouse scrum half has also been the target of numerous criticisms in recent days. “ I find that Antoine Dupont, since he was publicized, is no longer Antoine Dupont with a t, it’s Antoine Dupond with a d like in Tintin. This is no longer the real Antoine Dupont. So there you go, you’re going to forget the magazines and we’re going back to the turbine”, had released Mourad Boudjellal with his usual verve, Marc Lièvremont asserting for his part: “And it’s true that Antoine Dupont has returned, since the end of the World Cup, to a form of standard, to which we were not accustomed. It has little impact on the game. We’re not used to seeing “normal” performances from Antoine Dupont, it’s true that it’s a little worrying. »
I didn’t feel like he was a “normal” person.
These criticisms have obviously gone down badly among the Blues staff. “Our internationals are not in physical debt. There is a form of mental wear and tear, perhaps… But their physical state should not be called into question. The upcoming European Cup matches will also allow these men mental regeneration. We have no doubts about their physical condition, confided William Servat. Coming back to Antoine, I was at the match on Sunday evening and I did not have the impression that he was a “normal” person. »
“ Rather, I had the impression that he was widely followed and adored by the public, every time he appeared on the giant screen. Everyone was excited to see him enter the field. To say that Antoine is a normal person is simplistic. He’s a very great player who’s coming back into the competition, that’s all. “, he continued.
