The Springboks face a double axis French playmaking threat on Friday as Les Bleus coach Fabien Galthie plans one of the most remarkable playmaking shake-ups to try and beat the double World Champions.
The French side already possesses two of the world’s best halfbacks in Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu, and with a spate of injuries hitting the team and no flyhalf incumbent, the door has opened to both of them interchanging at halfback as they look to counter the Boks.
France named the duo at halfback with Antoine Dupont - the two time World Rugby Player of the year - lining up in the 10 jersey to face the Boks.
That would raise some eyebrows, as Dupont is known as a massive attacking threat, but perhaps does not have the tactical nuance that a 10 needs at test level.
Enter Lucu, who is more tactical, has a better kicking boot, but perhaps is not such a threat off the quick start as Dupont. Lucu often slots in at 10 for the European Champions Bordeaux-Begles and Friday night could see the same.
In fact, don’t be surprised if they interchange during the game to try and counter the Boks, bringing Lucu in when tactical kicking is needed and Dupont running the attack when the French are on the front foot.
It is an intriguing gamble but with both players being among the best in the world, there is no reason that it can’t pay off. That would be dangerous for the Boks, who have been preparing for a “tactical surprise” - as Felix Jones put it in his press conference this week.
Dupont seemed to confirm it to French media, but the Boks will have to wait to see if it is a bit of mind games, or if it is really a tactic the French will use.
'We had already worked on this setup over the past two weeks,' Dupont told Midi OIympique. 'It was one of the planned rotations in our system. Maxime [Lucu] has worked at No 10 over the last fortnight as well, a position he is familiar with from his time at Bordeaux. The
adaptation happened naturally, and within our team structure, we found our rhythm easily.'
The newspaper also said the French management views the Lucu–Dupont combination as a way to maintain dual-kicking options while preserving field vision against the heavy Springbok rush defense."
Galthie’s other option is 22-year old Pau flyhalf Axel Desperes, but attack coach Patrick Arlettaz believes Dupont can make a massive impact at 10.
'Physically, he looks fully refreshed and back to 100 per cent capacity. Technically, he was operating at an incredible level, but now you can see he has his full physical burst back,” he told Eurosport.
Dupont echoed the sentiment, reflecting on the weight of wearing the jersey ahead of Friday’s test: 'With injuries, form dips, and squad evolution, you realise how rare these big test matches are. It remains something exceptional to wear this jersey and lead this team intomatches of this magnitude.
There is also a return for Gregory Alldrit and Julien Marchant after a long absence as well.
Whatever the selection the Boks know they face a tough test on Friday night, and a double attacking threat of Dupont-Lucu won’t make it any easier.
France team to take on Springboks
France: 15 Théo Attissogbe, 14 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Antoine Dupont (c), 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 François Cros, 5 Mickaël Guillard, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Sipili Falatea, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Régis Montagne, 19 Charles Ollivon, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Esteban Capilla, 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Emilien Gailleton