On Wednesday, at a press conference, Galthié presented this move to number 10 as a challenge intended to bring greater stability and balance to the running of the game. The La Rochelle back-rower, absent from the squad since 22 November 2025 and a victory against Australia (48-33), returns to Les Bleus in a context deemed particularly favorable.
The opponent reminded everyone of its strength the previous weekend in Italy, where it won 66-7. Against such a formidable team, talent will not be enough: adaptation and a strong dose of solidarity will be needed to hope for an upset.
On Friday evening, Galthié's answer to this puzzle will therefore come through a captain shifted to fly-half, in the midst of a reshuffled and still depleted squad.
Fabien Galthié no longer really had the luxury of choice. Between a reshuffled half-back pairing, the return of experienced regulars and absences that continue to pile up, Les Bleus approach this fixture with a particularly delicate equation.
The choice is bold: Dupont has started at this position for his club only eight times, the last time on 30 March 2024 against Pau, in the Top 14.
With 49 caps, his experience and a powerful profile in the contact areas, the Toulouse player constitutes an additional weapon to compete with the Springboks.
The match, Les Bleus' second autumn fixture in the Nations Championship, is scheduled for 9:10 p.m.