Antoine Dupont to Start at Fly-Half for France Against South Africa

France captain Antoine Dupont will start at fly-half for the first time in his 66-cap international career during Friday’s Nations Championship match against South Africa in Paris.

The move follows an injury crisis within the French squad that has sidelined several established playmakers.

Injury crisis forces tactical pivot

The coaching staff faced a shortage of specialist options after Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert, Thomas Ramos, and Antoine Hastoy were ruled out of contention, according to the BBC report on the team selection. While Maxime Lucu, who has recent experience at 10 for Bordeaux-Begles, was initially considered the natural replacement, head coach Fabien Galthie opted for the scrum-half captain in the pivot position.

Galthie described the selection as the best available option for the team, as reported by Planet Rugby. The decision forces a reconfiguration of the half-back pairing, with Lucu remaining at nine to provide tactical assistance and kicking support.

Physical demands in the fly-half channel

Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett, speaking on the Talking Boks podcast, suggested that the change might provide defensive benefits against South Africa’s aggressive forward pack. He said that Dupont’s increased physicality compared to a traditional fly-half could prove vital when defending against heavy ball-carriers, as cited by SA Rugby magazine.

“He is an absolutely sensational rugby player. You get players who can play in more than one position. I’ll use Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse as examples. They can play centre, fullback and flyhalf. And I think Dupont’s the same.”

said Mallett. He further said that the two half-backs may frequently rotate roles throughout the match depending on the field position and the width of the attack.

“Just remember what he did as a sevens player. He was able to dominate that sevens series and get an Olympic gold medal,” former Springbok coach Nick Mallett said on the Talking Boks podcast.

Historical context at Stade de France

The upcoming match marks a return to the site of France’s 2023 World Cup quarter-final exit, a game in which South Africa secured a narrow one-point victory. According to The Times, France has struggled to overcome the Springboks in Paris, failing to secure a victory in the capital against them since 2005. South Africa enters the contest having won nine of the last 10 Tests between the two nations.

The French lineup includes Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, who earns his fourth cap on the wing. Grandidier-Nkanang, who previously won Olympic gold in Sevens alongside Dupont in 2024, transitioned back to the 15-a-side game with Pau following his time in the Sevens circuit, as reported by the BBC.

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has made only one change to the side that defeated Italy 66-7 last Saturday, bringing in Wilco Louw for Thomas du Toit. Erasmus acknowledged the difficulty of preparing for an opponent whose captain is shifting positions, telling the media that even the French players might not know exactly what the captain will do next.

The match is scheduled for Friday evening in Paris.

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