Rugby-Dupont to play at flyhalf for France against South Africa


Rugby Union - Nations Championship - France v Fiji - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - November 7, 2026 France's Antoine Dupont celebrates after the match REUTERS/Catherine Steenkeste

(Refiles fixing typo ⁠in headline)

Nov 11 (Reuters) - France have shifted captain Antoine ⁠Dupont from scrumhalf to flyhalf for Friday's Nations ‌Championship clash against South Africa, replacing the injured Romain Ntamack, coach Fabien Galthie said on Wednesday.

• Maxime Lucu came on at ​flyhalf against Fiji last Saturday to ⁠replace Ntamack, who dislocatedhis ⁠left shoulder,and appeared set to retain the position against the ⁠Boks ‌but will instead play in Dupont's usual scrumhalf role

• Former captain Gregory Alldritt replaces ⁠the injured Paul Boudehent in the back row

• ​Francois Cros ‌moves from number eight to blindside flanker while ⁠Cameron Woki ​is on the openside of the scrum

• France have also brought back hooker Julien Marchand, who replaces Maxime Lamothe ⁠with Peato Mauvaka retaining his role ​as the replacement hooker on the bench

• To cover for the half-back positions on the bench, flyhalf Axel Desperes ⁠has been selected and is in line for his first cap

Team: 15-Theo Attissogbe, 14-Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13-Kalvin Gourgues, 12-Yoram Moefana, 11-Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10-Antoine Dupont (captain), 9-Maxime Lucu, 8-Gregory ​Alldritt, 7-Cameron Woki, 6-Francois Cros, 5-Mickael ⁠Guillard, 4-Florian Verhaeghe, 3-Sipili Falatea, 2-Julien Marchand, 1-Jean-Baptiste Gros

Replacements: ​16-Peato Mauvaka, 17-Rodrigue Neti, 18-Regis ‌Montagne, 19-Charles Ollivon, 20-Tom Staniforth, 21-Esteban ​Capilla, 22-Axel Desperes, 23-Emilien Gailleton

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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