It was an open secret, which Anthony Jelonch had betrayed in spite of himself on Sunday evening at the microphone of Canal + after Toulouse's victory against La Rochelle in the Top 14.

By trusting that his teammate and best friend "Toto" would have a separate room in Marcoussis, a privilege reserved for the captain, the third line had removed the last uncertainties.

The French Rugby Federation confirmed it on Monday, on the first day of the gathering of the Blues for their three upcoming matches against Australia (November 5), South Africa (November 12) and Japan (November 20): Dupont retains the captaincy he inherited a year ago following Ollivon's long injury.

Despite the return of the third line from Toulon, the first captain appointed by coach Fabien Galthié when he took office in 2020, the renewal of Dupont follows a certain logic.

Firstly because Ollivon is subject to strong competition in the third row with Jelonch, Grégory Alldritt and François Cros, even if the latter is currently injured.

The Stade Toulousain scrum-half, named the best player in the world in 2021, also perfectly took on his new role, which did not affect his performance on the pitch.

A figure respected by international referees as well as by his opponents, the 25-year-old player, of a discreet nature, is a leader by example, well relayed in the locker room by his Toulouse teammate Julien Marchand, his Gers friend Grégory Alldritt or the experienced Gaël Fickou.

Undefeated as captain

"I think that if the staff chose me, it's for my way of being and the man that I am. I won't have to change my way of functioning and I can concentrate on my game as well that I was doing until now", he assured last year after taking the lead.

Dupont has since won all of his eight matches as captain of the France team, during the fall tests (Argentina, Georgia and New Zealand) then the last Six Nations Tournament, concluded by a Grand Slam.

Ollivon had regained the captaincy this summer for the victorious tour of two matches in Japan, from which the Toulousain had been exempted, like several executives, at the end of a particularly trying season.

A brief parenthesis therefore before Dupont resumes service for the three matches in November, during which the XV of France will try to extend a historic series of ten consecutive victories.

Antoine Dupont Six Nations Tournament trophy in hand after winning the Grand Slam on March 19, 2022 against England at the Stade de France FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

"The objective will be to continue our momentum, to continue our adventure, to gain further experience and shared experience," said the scrum-half on Sunday after Stade Toulouse's success over La Rochelle.

"It's also good to be able to face nations that we are not used to facing, with a view to the World Cup".

A trophy that he would see himself being, in almost a year to the day, the first French captain in history to lift.

© 2022 AFP