I can see why Dupont has gold in his sights
The Rugby Paper|December 24, 2023
IT is very hard to think of France without Antoine Dupont as a driving force as both scrum-half and captain.
JEREMY GUSCOTT
I can see why Dupont has gold in his sights

He is the best player in the world, and continues to prove it as anyone who watched the Toulouse masterclass against Harlequins in the Champions Cup tie at The Stoop last weekend will testify.

How many players would have made the impact Dupont did for the French in their epic World Cup quarter-final against South Africa, despite playing with a broken eye socket and cheekbone?

It proved he is human when he made a couple of early unforced errors against Quins, but it didn't take him long to get into his stride and cause havoc.

Often when you get a key player injured in a good team it provides an opportunity for another player to rise to the occasion, so that there is almost a seamless transition. For instance, when John Smit was South Africa's captain and hooker, and he was unavailable, all they had to do was install Bismarck du Plessis at No.2, because they were almost interchangeable.

However, Dupont is at the heart of this French team to such an extent that he's not interchangeable, even though his scrum-half understudy, Bordeaux's Maxime Lucu, is a good player.

Dupont is so talented that even when it comes to picking the scrum-half in a World XV, where he faces competition from great No.9s like Faf de Klerk and Aaron Smith, there is no doubt that he is the best and with room to spare.

What sets Dupont apart is his inspirational capacity to instigate something for France when there is nothing on, and nowhere to go. He can bounce, jink, dummy and deflect with such guile and power that he almost always gets the French out of a dead-end.

It is mind-boggling and unique - so France will miss him hugely when he leaves the 2024 Six Nations stage early in the New Year in order to fulfil his dream of playing for the France sevens side in the Paris Olympics this summer.

この記事は The Rugby Paper の December 24, 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は The Rugby Paper の December 24, 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE RUGBY PAPERのその他の記事すべて表示
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
The Rugby Paper

Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash

LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.

time-read
2 分  |
November 10, 2024
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
The Rugby Paper

Dramatic late win boosts leaders

A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.

time-read
2 分  |
November 10, 2024
England need to be more consistent
The Rugby Paper

England need to be more consistent

I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.

time-read
4 分  |
November 10, 2024
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
The Rugby Paper

Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver

ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.

time-read
3 分  |
November 10, 2024
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
The Rugby Paper

Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions

TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.

time-read
3 分  |
November 10, 2024
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
The Rugby Paper

Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot

LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
The Rugby Paper

Four-try David calls the shots for Bears

MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.

time-read
2 分  |
November 10, 2024
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
The Rugby Paper

Scott-Young keen to follow his father

TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.

time-read
2 分  |
November 10, 2024
When value for money is not part of the deal
The Rugby Paper

When value for money is not part of the deal

ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.

time-read
3 分  |
November 10, 2024
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
The Rugby Paper

'I want to prove my worth to Bath'

OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.

time-read
3 分  |
November 10, 2024