This is the Michalak syndrome: four and a half months after his return, where is Antoine Dupont really?

The captain of Stade Toulousain and the French XV has been through a lot since his return from injury at the end of November. Top 14, Champions Cup, Six Nations… Antoine Dupont has had little rest, and his performances have sometimes fallen below his usual high standards. But after being eliminated from the Champions Cup in Bordeaux last Sunday and before facing Castres Olympique, where does he really stand?

Before heading into the Champions Cup knockout stage, on the eve of the round of 16 against Bristol (April 4), Antoine Dupont was asked about his current form after a victorious Six Nations with the French XV. His caution was evident, over four months after his knee injury.

“It’s always challenging to live through a Six Nations. You are always under pressure, as if you were playing finals every weekend. It’s also a rollercoaster, where one moment you’re on track for a Grand Slam, and then one loss makes it seem like you’re out. This level of tension also drains you mentally and psychologically. I also had this illness, so it was challenging, mentally and emotionally. The tension never subsides.”

Words carry weight when used in such a way. Twenty weeks after playing his first match of the season on November 29 against Racing 92, the international half-back (29 years old, 64 caps) has played sixteen games across all competitions. Starting twelve times, he currently has the same amount of playing time as the previous season before his injury (963 minutes compared to 938), but has played more games this year with three fewer rest weekends. Not forgetting his return from a second serious knee injury. “We know that when you come back from a long injury, you may hit a rough patch at some point. I will do everything to prevent that from happening until the end of the season,” he added, well aware of the challenges ahead.

Facing Toulouse this weekend, Castres Olympique winger Geoffrey Palis recalls his own struggles with two serious knee injuries. He understands, “I’ve been through that, so I know what I’m talking about. Especially when you play so many games in a few months. It’s rare for players to come back like that and play so many matches, especially international games like the Six Nations. You need to be aware that he’s an exceptional player coming out of a complex injury period.”

For a closer look, Antoine Dupont’s statistics are slightly below his usual standards. Fewer defenders beaten (51 instead of 57), fewer assists (17 instead of 20), fewer meters carried with the ball (671 instead of 887), and notably, a lower tackle success rate (79% instead of 88%) compared to a year ago before his injury. In the Champions Cup, the Toulouse captain is no longer at the top of the rankings as he was in the 2023-2024 season, when his team won the title. Despite impressive matches, Dupont has also had lackluster performances.

However, Clement Poitrenaud, his coach at Toulouse, provides some perspective, using the recent match against UBB as an example. “Certainly, he didn’t make all the best choices, his kicks were not always accurate. Nevertheless, he had some good moments that were interesting. But all half-backs in the world, even Antoine Dupont, depend on the quality of their pack. The speed of ruck ball delivery, the movement of players around them. Last Sunday, Bordeaux was more aggressive, created more options for Maxime Lucu. It was easier for him to play. We don’t need to overanalyze Antoine’s state. It’s just that, collectively, we fell short.”

To be continued…