The scrum-half of Toulouse and the XV of France Antoine Dupont is the favorite to be named world player of the year 2021 on Friday and join Fabien Galthié and Thierry Dusautoir on the winners of this distinction.
The 25-year-old Frenchman has been appointed by the governing body of world rugby World Rugby along with English second row Maro Itoje and two Australians, third row Michael Hooper and center Samu Kerevi.
Galthié in 2002 and Dusautoir in 2011, examples to follow for Dupont
The one who will succeed the South African third row Pieter-Steph Du Toit, distinguished in 2019 (the title was not awarded in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic), will be appointed at the end of a process combining public vote and jury of experts.
Winner of the European Cup and the French Championship, captain of the Blues victorious over New Zealand during the autumn tests, Dupont (35 caps) is strongly expected.
“It would be logical for Antoine to win this trophy.
I do not see how it could be otherwise ”, estimated at the beginning of the week his Toulouse teammate the opener Romain Ntamack.
"Everyone sees what he does on the field every weekend (...) It is inevitably a pleasure to play with someone like him", added his friend of the hinge.
Dupont the only French present in the world XV
Only two French people so far have obtained this distinction created in 2001: the former scrum half and current coach of the Blues Fabien Galthié, in 2002, and the former third row Thierry Dusautoir, in 2011. Two French women, the winger or back Caroline Boujard and scrum half Laure Sansus, have also been nominated for the title of world player of the year 2021, with two English women, Zoe Aldcroft and Poppy Cleall.
French rugby has already been twice distinguished this week by World Rugby with the award of the most beautiful tries of the year to Emilie Boulard and Damian Penaud.
The Clermontois won the prize in the men's category for his try worthy of a footballer registered in the last match of the Six Nations Tournament lost by France to the XV du Chardon (27-23) on March 26 at the Stade de France.
Dupont is the only Frenchman to appear in the World Team of the Year, alongside five South Africans and three New Zealanders, including the young winger Will Jordan, also named revelation of the year after registering 15 tries in 11 matches with the All Blacks.