the essential Present this Sunday at a press conference before the start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup (September 8 – October 28), Antoine Dupont pointed to the busy schedule of French players who play in the Top 14.
Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille, Jonathan Danty or even recently Paul Willemse, were injured recently, more or less seriously, before the start of the World Cup. Hard knocks for the XV of France and the staff of Fabien Galthié. Is it the fault of the multiplication of matches between the Top 14, the European Cups and international matches? Antoine Dupont spoke on this subject at a press conference.
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“We know that the pace of French players is a problem. If we look at the number of games, the number of minutes, we play a lot more than our opponents. I don’t think that’s the subject of current injuries, but yes it’s a problem, and the calendar of French players is too busy. I don’t know how it can improve, “reacted the captain of the XV of France.
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What is certain is that the seasons are longer for French internationals, who play in France, than for those of other nations, who have lighter schedules whether in all the Southern Hemisphere countries or in Ireland. For example. An observation by Antoine Dupont which is shared by the French third line, Charles Ollivon.
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“The seasons are long for us, the French players. At the heart of the season our rhythm is higher than some other nations, after quantifying the consequences it is difficult”, indicates for his part the Toulonnais.
