French giants begin Top 14 life without Dupont
PREVIEW: French Top 14 leaders Toulouse head to second-placed Bordeaux-Begles on Sunday without talisman Antoine Dupont and a host of other France Six Nations champions.
Scrumhalf Dupont will miss the end of the club campaign after suffering a serious knee injury in Les Bleus’ Round Four win over Ireland in the Six Nations.
The 28-year-old then missed last Saturday’s title decider with Scotland, when Bordeaux-Begles’ wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored an eighth try of the campaign to underline his status as the rising star of French rugby.
Bielle-Biarrey became just the third player in the tournament’s 142-year history to reach the tally in one edition and took his Test return to 18 tries in 19 France appearances.
“I’ve recovered well since then,” Bielle-Biarrey told newspaper L’Equipe on Tuesday.
“It’s a good thing because we have another exciting match with Bordeaux-Begles against Toulouse this weekend,” he added ahead of the re-run of last season’s Top 14 Final.
Dupont is undoubtedly the poster boy for the sport in France, but 21-year-old Bielle-Biarrey’s stock has consistently risen as a player and an off-field personality since his international debut in August 2023.
France head coach Fabien Galthie said Bielle-Biarrey had progressed greatly since then and is an example for other members of the squad.
“I’m happy that my performances please people, the team, the coach, everyone,” said Bielle-Biarrey.
“Honestly it’s cool.
“I can still leave the house without being bothered.
“All things considered, I had a good Six Nations but I’m not Kylian Mbappe either.”
‘Hungry’ Nonu
Bielle-Biarrey is expected to be involved for his club this weekend but Toulouse are resting their Six Nations contingent.
In addition to Dupont, record 23-times French champions Toulouse will also be without hooker Peato Mauvaka as he was suspended for three games for a headbutt in the win over Scotland.
In Saturday’s headline game, Toulon host Perpignan with 42-year-old former New Zealand centre Ma’a Nonu named in the home side’s wider squad for the game after joining as medical cover until the end of the season.
Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Nonu retired after a spell with San Diego Legion last term but returns to the French Riviera, having already spent three campaigns at Stade Mayol.
“I told him that we’ll do things intelligently, he’ll play at the right time, we’ll give him time,” Toulon head coach Pierre Mignoni told reporters on Thursday, casting a doubt over Nonu’s involvement this weekend.
“He has to find his feet but he’s very hungry,” Mignoni added.
