The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

XV of France: the phenomenon Antoine Dupont

2020-10-25T18:17:51.820Z


At each exit, the young scrum half of the Blues amazes a little more. At 23, he is already the boss of the French game and one of his strongest offensive assets. 


Saturday night, he burst the screen.

One more time.

An overflowing activity, incessant outbursts.

To put his team in the right direction again and again.

Against Wales, Antoine Dupont nourished his growing reputation, that of a world-class player hailed as such by all his opponents.

Confirmed his status: he is currently one of the top three scrum backs in the world.

Against the Welsh, the Toulousain scored two tries, always in support, in the right place, to finish the blows.

He was also decisive on the test of his captain, Charles Ollivon: a new number in the red defense, in panic, before serving him up.

Three decisive actions, but also a role of distributor and a strategic vision that is always correct, with its occupation kicks wisely to reverse the pressure.

"READ ALSO: Quoted for bad gesture, Bernard le Roux will be fixed on his fate on Tuesday

To see him also master of his subject, so uninhibited, we would sometimes forget that he is only 23 years old.

But, we know, to well-born souls, value does not await the number of years.

Antoine Dupont played his first Top 14 matches at 18, under the Castres jersey.

Before joining, three years later, a Stade Toulousain under reconstruction.

Result?

A title of champion of France in 2019. A coronation awaited for seven years by the red-and-black people.

In the French team, his rise was also meteoric.

A first selection at 20 years old.

A role of understudy then, quickly, he entered the costume of the boss.

Until becoming essential.

Today, he is the catalyst of the offensive and daring game advocated by the new staff of the XV of France headed by Fabien Galthié.

Former scrum half, the coach was not wrong.

Dupont's potential, he detected it for a long time.

In 2017, then manager of RC Toulon, he tried to recruit him.

In vain.

But the combination of robustness and liveliness, his winning temper, his lucidity and his temerity, had convinced him: the XV of France had a nugget there, the big number 9 which had been lacking for too long.

"

If I were his coach, I would give him carte blanche…

"

Fabien Galthie

"I am amazed by this kid", wrote Fabien Galthié, in a column for L'Équipe.

“It seems out of the ordinary to me.

By its physical qualities, but not only.

The others turn to him, he reassures the team about his ability to find solutions and even to defend.

And he has that extra thing, that ability to break the line or clean bad balls.

If I were his coach, I would give him carte blanche… ”A piece of advice that he now applies.

But Antoine Dupont is not just a brilliant soloist.

At 23, but already 25 selections, he has taken a real ascendancy over the France group.

This leadership role, the Gersois has always assumed.

Even claimed.

“In my job, you have to like to command,” he told us during the World Cup in Japan.

And always know how to manage your emotions. ”

Cool head and fiery legs.

The perfect combination.

"

I know that I am a little more put forward than the others, but I don't get carried away

"

Antoine Dupont

Perfection that continues off the pitch.

Antoine Dupont is praised by supporters and journalists, his teammates and his opponents.

It could make him lose his mind.

But, again, its maturity is surprising.

And reassure.

With Romain Ntamack, he is the head of the gondola of this new-look, rejuvenated and ambitious XV de France.

Who seeks nothing less than the world title in three years on his land.

He could take advantage, make his diva, pull the blanket to him.

It is quite the reverse.

Number 9 at Stade Toulousain is reserved and humble.

Aware of the expectations weighing on him, he lives it without stress but also without ego swelling.

"I know that I am a little more put forward than the others, that the press talks a lot about me," he repeats regularly.

But I don't get carried away.

Those who know him well assure however that it boils inside.

Let him not neglect anything, think constantly of the game, of the means to do better.

Eternal dissatisfied.

The key to success.

Read also

  • France-Wales: the five essays of the tricolor recital in video

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-10-25

You may like

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-27T16:45:54.081Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.