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The classy message England have sent to the injured Antoine Dupont
By Liam Heagney
England sent their regards to the injured Antoine Dupont shortly after it was confirmed on Friday morning that the France skipper had suffered a fractured cheekbone in Thursday’s win over Namibia.
The Rugby World Cup hosts hammered the African minnows 96-0 in Marseille but the major talking point was the 45th-minute exit of the French skipper after a red-carded tackle from Johan Deysel.
The injury threatens the participation of arguably the world’s current best player in the remainder of the tournament as no definitive time frame has been established for his cheekbone to heel.
England, though, reckon that Dupont will play again at the finals and, ahead of the pool match on Saturday versus Chile in Lille, they sent the scrum-half their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
“On behalf of everyone connected with England Rugby, we’d like to pass on our best wishes to Antoine and hope for a speedy recovery,” said assistant Kevin Sinfield after England had completed their eve of stadium visit.
“Disappointing for the competition at this moment in time but we have no doubt he will be back. World-class players like that get themselves right very, very quickly and I am sure he is doing everything he can.
“I know if it is a facial fracture there will be a period of time but we have seen players play before with facial fractures so I suspect he will be back on his feet and back available very, very soon and like I said, we wish him all the best.”
Danny Care, Dupont’s fellow No9, added: “I echo what Kev said, we all send him our best. At the World Cup, you want to see the best players. Antoine is the best player in the world so we want to see him back there in a French shirt.
“The one thing you know about him is he is tough and I’m sure if he is able he will be back in a French shirt. You saw the way they played last night [Thursday] with him fizzing around, he is pretty special. For the tournament, you want to see the best players playing so we wish him a speedy recovery.”
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Latest Comments
We beat Wales. Oh wow.
Go to commentsAs has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.
Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.
That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.
You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).
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