Six Nations tournament: in Italy, Antoine Dupont has turned everything upside down

It becomes a habit, but we still never tire of it. As always or almost when he puts on the jersey of the XV of France, Antoine Dupont still impressed. In Rome, the Italian defenders had plenty of time to admire his number 9 spinning towards their goal during the correction inflicted by the XV of France on Saturday (10-50).

Very leggy, the Toulousain has a large part in this tricolor demonstration, with five tests where he is involved in less than an hour spent on the lawn of a Stadio Olimpico where he had lived his first selection four years ago. At the time, the XV of France was looking very laboriously. Four years later, he found a soul and a detonator in the person of the scrum-half, very generous.

Dylan Cretin (6th) but especially Gaël Fickou (27th) – cleverly served at the foot – Arthur Vincent (30th) and Teddy Thomas (57th) took advantage of one of his passes to go and punish the Transalpins. He took advantage of an offering from the Racing 92 winger to register his eighth try in 28 selections (53rd). Quite simply, monstrous.

“Even stronger than last year”

“We need him in the conduct of the game and there he achieved a great performance, salutes his captain, Charles Ollivon. Communication was very good with the rest of the team, and he showed his qualities. “” On the third try, I announce: GK Kicking, and sends him a ball that bounces perfectly behind the defender, blows, amazed, winger Gabin Villière. A player like that is important for the group. “

“He is even stronger than last year,” salutes the former international scrum half, Guy Accoceberry. He is more precise at the foot, he tries less to go in first intention because he knows he is being watched and is systematically present in support in the axis as soon as the French attack. The attackers know without raising their heads that he will be there. “

In Rome, Dupont did not limit his impact to the offensive sector. Even if he is at fault on the try refused to the Italians, he made six tackles out of seven and applied himself to putting pressure on the transalpine attackers. “He can go very quickly to find his opponent thanks to his speed of setting in motion, underlines Guy Accoceberry. He has a low center of gravity and, despite his weight, is capable by his power of going to bring down guys of 120 kilos. “

“There is more waiting on me today”

Within the group, the young man is now a manager despite his 24 years. In the wake of a successful World Cup in Japan at the end of 2019, he relegated far behind the competition from Baptiste Serin or Baptiste Couilloud, his rivals in this position. Indispensable on the field, that the staff made him leave shortly before the hour of play to avoid any unnecessary risk before a capital trip to Ireland on Sunday, the Toulousain is aware that his role with the Blues must go far beyond.

“There is more expectation on me today than four years ago, I am no longer considered an emerging young player, so there are more responsibilities that come, he explained in an interview with the Parisian this week. There are no longer the former members of the team to rely on, it is up to our generation to take the project in hand now. The transition went well. Beyond the performances, from my position and the experience that I am starting to have, it is up to me and a few other players to lead this project. “

“Antoine will never be a nine who barks at his partners or who will try to influence the referee. It’s not in its nature, describes Accoceberry. Now he is so decisive on the pitch that others naturally follow him. It’s one of the best in the world, if not the best in some aspects. I can’t wait to see him against the Irish, with longer and more demanding streaks of play. And with, perhaps, one of those demonstrations that we refuse to get tired of.