The Springboks are hoping the French captain, Antoine Dupont, will be fit and available for Sunday’s big Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris.

Dupont, who won the Rugby World Player of the Year accolade for the past two years, has been out of action since sustaining a facial fracture in against Namibia during the Pool games.

Dupont has been tipped to return to action in the quarter-finals after he started training with the Les Blues after being given the greenlight to return to play by surgeons.

Dupont in an incredibly inspirational player for the French and his exceptional play also gets highlighted by the dominance of the French pack

The Springbok scrum coach, Daan Human, said it’s important for a player of Dupont’s quality playing in the knockout stage.

“World Cups are about getting the best players from all countries in the world on the pitch, so hopefully he will be on the field for them so the world can see one of the best players in the world.

“We will never concentrate on only one player, it’s more on the system and more on the whole team.

“You can get carried away if you concentrate on one guy and you’re missing the next guy. We will stay in our system and do what we will do.”

Human added that if they are to advance to the semi-finals, they will have to keep the impressive French pack in check this weekend.

“They are the most dominant pack in world rugby at the moment.

“It will be a battle, like all the other games are a battle. It’s a hurdle and if you want to get over the hurdle you must put in some hard yards and be successful and be good in all the departments.”

Sunday’s quarter-final between France and the Springbok at Stade de France kicks off at 21:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport