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Namibia captain Johan Deysel has apologised to Antoine Dupont following a head-on-head collision that has left the France star\u2019s Rugby World Cup campaign in doubt.<\/p>\n
Dupont suffered a facial fracture during France\u2019s record 96-0 win against Namibia in Marseille.<\/p>\n
Deysel\u2019s yellow card for the collision, with France leading 54-0, was upgraded to red following a review by the television match official.<\/p>\n
The French Rugby Federation confirmed the extent of Dupont\u2019s injury on Friday, but said it was uncertain how long the scrum-half will be unavailable for.<\/p>\n
Deysel said: \u201cI would like to extend my best wishes to Antoine Dupont. Clearly, I meant no harm.<\/p>\n
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\u201cEverything happened very quickly and I couldn\u2019t get my head out of the way quick enough, resulting in a head clash. I know the rules and immediately knew that I was at fault.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spoke with Fabien Galthie (France head coach) immediately after the match and sent my best wishes and apologies to Antoine, both personally and via the France team doctor.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a great player and person, and I wish him a speedy recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
A tearful Dupont went to hospital in nearby Aix-en-Provence, and the Federation said: \u201cSpecialised surgical advice was requested to assess how long he will be unavailable for.\u201d<\/p>\n
France\u2019s final pool game is against Italy in Lyon on October 6, before a quarter-final \u2013 probably against Ireland or South Africa \u2013 the following weekend.<\/p>\n
If Les Bleus reach the semi-finals, they take place in Paris on October 20 and 21.<\/p>\n
The World Cup needs a player like him to be fit and be there past the group stage, in the quarter-finals, semi-finals or if France get to the final<\/p>\n
Dupont\u2019s fitness setback is headline news in France, and there is a real possibility of Les Bleus losing their star player for the tournament remainder.<\/p>\n
Wales head coach Warren Gatland and England scrum-half Danny Care, meanwhile, have been among the well-wishers to Dupont.<\/p>\n
Gatland said: \u201cHopefully, he will be OK.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe World Cup needs a player like him to be fit and be there past the group stage, in the quarter-finals, semi-finals or if France get to the final. He is absolutely world class.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Care said: \u201cIn 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing we know about him is he is tough. If he is able, he will be back in a French shirt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the way they played last night with him fizzing around, and he is pretty special, so for the tournament I want to see the best players playing. We wish him a speedy recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former world player of the year Dupont has been the star performer in a resurgent French team under Galthie\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n
And while it is hoped he can return before the end of the tournament, there must also be doubts about his future participation as France target a first world title.<\/p>\n
France attack coach Laurent Labit said on Friday: \u201cWe always have a hope that Antoine will continue the adventure with us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will leave the time for two-three days to have the opinion of a specialist. It\u2019s Antoine and the surgeon who will make the decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, Antoine hasn\u2019t finished the competition. We have three days in front of us. We hope to have good news after the three days.<\/p>\n
The specialist knows who Antoine Dupont is, what competition he is currently playing. It is not an average subject<\/p>\n
\u201cAntoine certainly imagined the worst before the first examinations. After the initial tests, Fabien (Galthie) went to see him.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAntoine stays with us. Everyone will be together. We will do as we have always done with short-term injuries in hoping that the opinion of the surgeon is positive for Antoine and us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe specialist knows who Antoine Dupont is, what competition he is currently playing. It is not an average subject.\u201d<\/p>\n