On the mend.

France have issued a huge update on captain Antoine Dupont after he fractured his jaw in the Rugby World Cup win over Namibia last week.

The talented number nine suffered the injury following a nasty head-to-head collision with Namibia captain Johan Deysel, whose initial yellow card was upgraded to a red after a bunker review. Deysel was subsequently banned for six weeks following a disciplinary hearing.

France sought specialist advice following the incident and their captain had an operation on the fracture last Friday. The French Rugby Federation (FFR) confirmed Dupont has since returned to the squad, and now it appears they’re confident he’ll be back for the quarter-finals.

Dupont had an appointment with a specialist this week about creating a face mask that may allow him to return in time, and it seems the French are fully confident he’ll be back.

“Antoine is in great order today. The operation went very well, and he is resting,” France assistant coach William Servat told a press conference on Tuesday.

“He will return for training on Sunday. Friday and Saturday are our rest days, he will have the time to return in this period of time.

“I have no doubts about his ability to play in the quarter-final. I think it is reasonable to say that.”

France are three from three so far in Pool A and have a week off before their final game on October 6 against Italy in Lyon.