England should be on high alert rugby’s answer to Messi has returned even better after his Olympic sevens stint. Scrum-half Antoine Dupont took time away from XVs to chase Olympic gold, and the result has made him even more effective around the rucks.
Tickets for England’s upcoming clash with France are far from cheap, with premium seats priced at £199 and the most affordable options still costing £89. But witnessing true sporting genius firsthand is a rare privilege. Dupont’s name now belongs among the greats of contemporary sport. With all due respect to Novak Djokovic, Max Verstappen, Patrick Mahomes, Simone Biles, and Mohamed Salah, the French maestro stands at the pinnacle.
Perhaps only Biles, close in age, can rival him for all-around brilliance. But unlike gymnastics, rugby presents a different level of physical threat, with opponents constantly attempting to smash you into next week. Dupont kicks with both feet, tackles ferociously, offloads with precision, and reads the game like no other. On top of all that, he captains his country with distinction.
Against Wales, he was substituted after just 49 minutes not due to injury or poor form, but because he had already dismantled the opposition. His three try assists may not seem extraordinary in isolation, but the bigger message was clear: France wanted him fresh for England.
Irish rugby pundits have dubbed him “the Messi of rugby,” and former international stars have been just as effusive in their praise. Rob Kearney, the former Ireland and Lions full-back, didn’t hesitate in his assessment: “For me, he’s the greatest to ever play the game.” Kearney highlighted Dupont’s remarkable strength, his kicking ability, vision, and overall rugby intelligence. “There are no faults to his game,” he added.
Even more concerning for England Dupont is still improving. His time playing sevens last year enhanced his ability to spot defensive gaps and sharpened his breakdown work, as evidenced by his four turnovers in last season’s Champions Cup final.
During Toulouse’s demolition of Exeter before Christmas, his influence was undeniable. Toulouse racked up 64 points, with Dupont orchestrating the show, either cutting devastating lines or finishing tries himself. Another former Ireland international, Shane Horgan, described him as “almost the perfect player.”
The question remains: can England or anyone else stop him during this Six Nations campaign? His Toulouse teammate Emmanuel Meafou revealed that the squad jokingly calls him “The Martian” because of the things he can do on the field. “He does stuff in training that makes you shake your head and wish you could do that too,” Meafou said. “And he’s a humble guy.”
France’s 2023 World Cup dreams were derailed when Dupont fractured his cheekbone against Namibia. Had he remained fully fit, who knows how far Les Bleus could have gone? At the very least, they would have been significantly harder to beat.
This raises another debate: is Dupont the greatest player to ever grace Twickenham? England has had its fair share of legends, but never a scrum-half of his caliber. Even the finest French No 9s Jacques Fouroux, Jérôme Gallion, Pierre Berbizier, and Fabien Galthié would struggle to match his influence.
Then there are the global icons: Jonah Lomu, Richie McCaw, Michael Jones, Dan Carter, David Campese, and Serge Blanco. Gareth Edwards, long considered the greatest player of the past half-century, once had an unrivaled claim to that title. But even Edwards himself acknowledged Dupont’s brilliance, admitting last year, “It’s taken 50 years to be compared with somebody.”
Saturday could be the day Dupont finally takes his place as rugby’s undisputed GOAT. If you have a ticket, hold onto it tightly you’re about to witness history.
