I’m not talking about his failure to land a World Cup winners’ medal – that is totally irrelevant to his iconic status in my eyes – but the deficiency to which I refer is that he has yet to take on any of the southern hemisphere giants on their own turf. Yes, he has beaten all three in either autumn internationals or World Cup games and often been the star man in those games but that’s only half the story, isn’t it.
You’ve got to be able to do it home and away, in front of hostile crowds and playing in unfamiliar conditions. Edwards shone mightily in South Africa in 1974 – not so much in 1968 as it happens – and finished the 1971 Lions tour to New Zealand like a train although overall it was honours even with opposite number Sid Going.
Thus far Dupont, 27, hasn’t taken on the Boks on the Highveld at Loftus or Ellis Park, he hasn’t faced the All Blacks at their Eden Park citadel and endured the 24/7 scrutiny that even a short tour/series in New Zealand involves and he hasn’t encountered the, er, wit and barracking of Aussie crowds and media or played at the towering Olympic stadium.
I don’t doubt for a microsecond that he would excel down south – to my mind it’s a given – but alas France’s policy of sending understrength teams on their summer tours seems to rule this possibility out. In recent years second and even third teams squads have been dispatched to New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.
Denne historien er fra October 06, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 06, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Campese: Schmidt is wrong man for Aussies
DAVID Campese delivered a blunt message regarding Joe Schmidt’s position as Australia’s head coach, claiming the Kiwi isn’t right for the role because he doesn’t understand the Wallabies’ culture and history.
How London Welsh are working way back to top
William Gupwell goes down to south-west London to find a club out to rediscover itself
Sorry, Geoff, but let's not de-power scrums
EVERY week I can’t wait for Sunday to come around so that I can read The Rugby Paper and see what is really happening in our game.
Howdy! England pair saddle up to spread the word
JESS Breach and Ellie Kildunne have launched their new podcast Rugby Rodeo with one ambition in mind – to grow the profile of the women’s game.
I put in three good shots on Jonah Lomu
BACK in the day, when we first started in Leagues in 1987, we began in North East 2.
Dupont & Co need to take on the very best
I THINK we established long ago that my admiration of Antoine Dupont knows no bounds, he is the best rugby player I have ever reported on or watched in the flesh, pipping Gareth Edwards by a short head, but there is no question that there is a gaping huge hole in his CV which many cite against him when the all-time lists are compiled and debated.
Tuipulotu's power is too much for Cardiff
SCOTLAND star Sione Tuipulotu has been hailed as one of the best three 12s in the world following his player of the match display in this 13-try rollercoaster at the Arms Park.
Following in father's footsteps ... but for how long?
CAST your minds back, those of you who are sufficiently long in the tooth, to Melbourne in late October 2003.
Borthwick should call up these young props
IT WAS surprising that neither of England’s U20 world champion props, Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale) or Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester), were in the England training squad going to Portugal ahead of the autumn series.
Lively Reed lights the spark to ignite Sharks
AARON Reed proved to be Sale’s pivotal weapon, and the perfect foil in both attack and defence to ensure Sharks came out on the right side of a nine-try nailbiter on Friday.