The Fort Worth Press - France not forcing poster boy Dupont's World Cup return before Italy showdown

Paris fashion week may have started, the Pope may have visited Marseille, French President Emmanuel Macron may have proposed autonomy to the Mediterranean island of Corsica, but discussions in bars and cafes across the country over recent days have been about Dupont's injury.

Scrum-half Dupont is expected to return in time for a potential quarter-final on the weekend of October 14-15 but will sit out next Friday's game with Italy in Lyon.

The signs are positive after Toulouse's Dupont spent a few days at home resting after last Friday's surgery on the injury.

Tournament hosts Les Bleus spent the week without a game near the Mediterranean coast training and are set to welcome the 26-year-old back into the set-up late on Sunday after the whole squad are given the weekend off.

"It's good news. We will wait for his return and talk to him to see how he his," France flanker Francois Cros told Friday's edition of specialist rugby newspaper Midi Olympique.

"But you have to remain optimistic.

"It's only him who can tell us how he feels and if he's able to play," Dupont's club team-mate added.

Maxime Lucu or Baptiste Couilloud are competing to replace Dupont in the No. 9 shirt and there is a long list of candidates to take over the captaincy.

Flankers Charles Ollivon and Dupont's high school mate Anthony Jelonch have led the side in the past during Fabien Galthie's tenure.

Centre Gael Fickou, Cros and hooker Julien Marchand, despite suffering a hamstring issue, could also stand in as skipper against the Azzurri.

"The boss won't be there against Italy," ex-France full-back Xavier Garbajosa told Midi Olympique.

"Whatever the case, the lieutenants will be present.

"These guys shine. It's why France always seem confident, calm, never in danger," he added.

- 'The order of things' -

France are among the favourites to win the Webb Ellis trophy on October 28, not only after sweeping aside New Zealand in their opening game but due to their consistent results and performances since Galthie took over after the last World Cup.

They will have had more than two weeks between the Namibia romp and facing Italy next month in their final Pool A game.

"We're not lost, or waiting for things to happen," Cros said about the break.

"We know where we're going. And we know that from here on in things are going to happen quickly," he added.

A 14th straight victory over the Azzurri, a run dating back more than a decade, would guarantee Galthie's side top spot and a potential last-eight tie against World Cup holders South Africa.

"Before looking ahead to an eventual quarter-final, we prefer to concentrate on the preparation for the match against Italy," Cros said.

"Even if the staff have to start to anticipate what's ahead, but let's respect the order of things," he added.

J.P.Cortez--TFWP