France captain Dupont to start against South Africa

PARIS :Antoine Dupont will start for France in Sunday's quarter-final clash against South Africa after recovering from surgery on a broken cheekbone in a massive boost for the hosts ahead of what could turn out to be a tactical battle at the Stade de France.

The mercurial scrumhalf missed Les Bleus's final Pool A game against Italy and while he was not needed in a 60-7 demolition of the Azzurri, the captain's presence against the defending champions will offer a confidence boost and add danger to Fabien Galthie's side.

The 26-year-old's return, three weeks after a head-on-head collision with Namibia's Johan Deysel sent him to hospital, pushes Maxime Lucu back onto the bench after he stood in brilliantly for Dupont alongside flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert.

"I feel great. I'm in possession of all my capabilities - technical and physical," Dupont told a press conference on Friday.

"I thought the tournament was over for me. After the surgery I started to have hope and then I had a good recovery and went through all the steps, had the chance to have several weeks to complete the process," Dupont, who added he was highly likely to wear a protective helmet at the Stade de France, explained.

"I have no apprehension."

Galthie said that Dupont's comeback was not rushed and that a strict protocol was followed.

"Amidst all the pressure surrounding Antoine and his injury, we were very calm. We did not force anything and went through a process with the medical staff, Antoine and his surgeon," he said.

South Africa sprung a few surprises with their line-up, with Manie Libbok and Cobus Reinach occupying the halfback positions and a 5-3 forward-back split on the bench - a big shift from the 7-1 split coach Jacques Nienaber chose for their Pool B