France's hopes that skipper  Antoine Dupont will be fit to face South Africa in the World Cup quarter-final this weekend were given a major boost on Wednesday when the scrum-half trained for the second day running with a headguard.

Dupont, 26, was given the green light to return to full contact sessions earlier this week after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone during the pool match against Namibia on September 21.

Dupont, who is in line to feature for the hosts against the Springboks on Saturday, first tried out the protection during Tuesday's session in Paris' leafy western suburb of Ruel-Malmaison.

"We wanted to check if it impacted his vision," forwards coach Laurent Labit said on Tuesday.

"His hearing too, even if (training ground) Rueil-Malmaison doesn't have the same sound or atmosphere as the Stade de France.

"A decision will be made at the end of the week," he added.

Les Bleus will name their team to face the World Cup holders on Friday.

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