Failing to have won the Six Nations Tournament, a title which finally returned to England, France had the good surprise to learn this Friday that its nugget Antoine Dupont was named best player of the competition.
The Toulousain was in competition with five other players including his partners in the XV of France, the third line of La Rochelle Gregory Alldritt and his friend at the opening with the Blues and club Romain Ntamack.
The other candidates were the English Maro Itoje and Ben Youngs and the Irish CJ Stander.
Antoine Dupont, who played the five games of the competition at 23, won 46% of the 44,000 votes cast.
It was European internet users who designated the French player who is the first Habs to be honored with this honorary distinction since its creation in 2004.
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The XXL performance of the pocket scrum half convinced rugby fans.
No player at his post in the Tournament has covered more meters with the ball in hand than the native of Lannemezan (249 m).
His ubiquitous kicking game and passing after contact (12 during the competition) also worked wonders.
"His talent has clearly crossed borders as evidenced by the ballot which allowed his appointment," noted the tournament director, Frenchman Benjamin Morel.
Dupont joined the XV of France for a new training camp for the Autumn Nations Cup match against Fiji in Vannes (Morbihan) on November 15.