Springboks assistant coach Felix Jones says South Africa has to limit the impact of France captain Antoine Dupont when the two sides meet in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

Dupont was able to go back to training this week after having surgery on a broken cheekbone. The important scrum-half is expected to play in Sunday’s much-anticipated last-eight match at the Stade de France in Paris.

“He has a big impact on the players around him and gives them belief,” Jones told reporters.

“We can’t control the presence he brings, we can only control trying to stop the many talents and abilities he has,” the Irishman added.

The fact that Dupont has never lost on home soil as captain highlights France’s importance to him.

Since taking over the captain’s armband from flanker Charles Ollivon in November 2021, the 26-year-old, who was named World Rugby player of the year in 2021, has been instrumental to France’s success.

“World player of the year, if you have that title you’re a special player,” Springboks’ scrum-half Cobus Reinach said.

“He’s proven it playing for Toulouse and the French team.

“Every game is a highlight reel with a magic moment, a cross kick or a pass or pulling someone back over the tryline,” he added.

At fly-half, Jones and Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber face a pregame selection dilemma.

They can choose between Manie Libbok, a creative but inconsistent goal kicker, and Handre Pollard, who was instrumental in South Africa’s 2019 World Cup victory.

“It’s very tight in a number of positions and fly-half is very tight,” Jones said.

“Handre’s been there and done it for us from the starting role. Manie’s also been playing some great rugby for us.

“It’s just one of our considerations,” he added.

On Sunday, the Stade de France will be packed with a fervent home crowd anticipating a French victory as they seek their first-ever World Cup title.

“We know it’s going to be sold-out, we know they’re going to be signing, we have to embrace it,” South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi said:

“We’ve tried to simulate it in training during the week so in the match it doesn’t shock you.

“It’s to make sure that when Sunday comes it’s not the first time you experience it,” he added.

Photo by Steve Haag Sports