The National Times - Dupont back to skipper France against Japan

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Dupont back to skipper France against Japan

SPORTS 07.11.2024

Dupont back to skipper France against Japan / Photo: © AFP

Antoine Dupont will make his return to the France team as captain for Saturday's Test against Japan after sitting out the last 13 months of international duty.

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Dupont's last run-out in blue at 15s came in the morale-denting Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by eventual champions South Africa a little over a year ago.

In the 13 months since that loss on home soil, the 27-year-old scrum-half has helped the France sevens team to an Olympic gold medal as well as claiming a French Top 14 and Champions Cup double with club Toulouse.

Dupont will partner Toulouse teammate Thomas Ramos at half-back, the latter was preferred over Matthieu Jalibert to start at fly-half.

Ramos, who normally plays full-back for his club, replaced Jalibert in the number 10 shirt for matches against England and Wales last year.

There is a debut for Bayonne prop Tevita Tatafu, while Gael Fickou drops to the bench for the first time since 2019, Yoram Moefana and Emilien Gailleton were named in midfield.

R.Hawkins--TNT

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