Antoine Dupont, Maxime Lucu and liar poker: the French XV is banking on the element of surprise against South Africa

Antoine Dupont has never hidden it, he is eternally “curious about everyday life and on the pitch” as he explained on September 24, 2024 during Rugby Night. Not sure, however, that he has experienced much greater curiosity - at least as far as rugby 15s is concerned - than what awaits him on Friday November 13 against South Africa. Dupont is expected as fly-half to face the Springboks in the Nations Championship. Faced with the defection of many professional players as number 10, the 29-year-old is forced to innovate... Or bluff.

This will be the big attraction and an almost absolute unknown for everyone involved at kick-off. Officially, Dupont will wear the number 10, accompanied by Maxime Lucu to form the hinge. But between the Toulouse man and his sidekick from the UBB, the Blues will face the Boks mountain with a hydra as hybrid as it is without reference points. "These are two positions which are very different, but which are also very linked, explained Antoine Dupont to the press on Thursday. We, with Maxime, both have this versatility. We tried to exchange, to prepare as much as possible, to adapt to what is going to be offered to us by also preparing things with the only day of training that we had. We are in the adaptation, but also with the knowledge that we have of this position, he and I, which we were also able to discuss."

Dupont-Lucu, interconnected and interchangeable?

Faced with the unknown and the bad fortune of the XV of France, Dupont and Lucu will be offered a strange mission, and an equally unprecedented latitude to face it. Thursday during the last setup before the meeting, Dupont wore the number 10 of the flyhalf... While retaining the reins of scrum half in these phases of play. "You will see tomorrow [Friday] how we will try to adapt to what is offered to us, let Antoine Dupont hover. We tried to make a combination that works best for the team."

Antoine Dupont number 10, it will be a first for the selection, but not unheard of for the all-rounder from Stade Toulousain. The future thirty-year-old - next Sunday - has already started eight times with the Rouge et Noir, the last time on March 30, 2024 against Pau. "I have absolutely no doubt that, even if Dupont is going to wear the number 10, he will certainly have the freedom to do what he wants, considered Thursday the assistant coach of South Africa, Mzwandile Stick. Remember also that Lucu has already helped out at the position of 10 in the past [14 times in his career as a starter, including October 16 against Gloucester in the European Cup]. So I think that between the two, they will probably have a lot of freedom to continue to exchange positions in the current game."

"He's a good enough player to do that, and he's shown it over the years. Dupont pitched well will consistently be better than you, and he's really good at making good decisions under pressure."

Siya Kolisi, South African third row at a press conference, November 12, 2026

With Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu at the helm, it's a mix of spark and stability. As well as the assurance of a tandem which does not shy away from defensive tasks, not luxury against South Africans who are models of power and commitment. Faced with the certainties acquired by the Boks for years, France must count on an element of mystery to disrupt the reigning double world champions.

"In any case, we're going to have to surprise ourselves because, as I said, we're not in the most favorable context given the squad we have today, insists Antoine Dupont. But we have nothing to lose in this match, except to give our best. To play without complexes, first of all to compete with them obviously, but also to be able to play our rugby, which is always hard against them."

A victory whatever the circumstances would have already been an achievement. A success on Friday would seem like a magic trick. It would not be the first proposed by Antoine Dupont.