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Jerome Kaino says All Blacks are facing 'Dan Carter' level talent with Dupont
By Ben Smith
When the All Blacks face France in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup, it will be the third time that they will see 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year Antoine Dupont on the pitch.
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In 2017 the young scrumhalf made his first start for France against New Zealand as a 20-year-old, and although they lost 38-18, Dupont was exceptional with his running game.
The next time Dupont faced the All Blacks was in 2021 where his France side stunned Ian Foster’s team with a 40-25 win.
Ex-All Black No 6 Jerome Kaino is very familiar with Dupont and Romain Ntamack after playing along side the pair for years at Toulouse in the Top 14.
The 2015 World Cup winner compared the No 9 to one of the all-time greats, saying that Dupont is like Dan Carter in how he thinks and plays the game.
“When we talk about Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, DC comes to mind,” Kaino told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“The way they operate, they way they think about the game, how professional they are.
“I immediately think ‘Dan Carter’ in terms of the mannerisms, what they do.”
Since the last World Cup, Dupont has become the world’s best player which has brought with it extra attention on the pitch.
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Kaino warned that targeting the scrumhalf could backfire as he ‘loves’ the challenge and has a way of figuring out how to deal with it.
He has watched first hand as teams in the Top 14 have gone after him with limited success.
“When he plays for us [Toulouse], everyone is trying to target him,” Kaino said.
“He’s obviously the link between forwards and backs but probably the key to our game.
“The way he adjusts, the way he adapts, it’s incredible.
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“When I watch him play, he loves pressure, he loves people targeting him. He will always find a way to adapt to whatever comes his way.
“If he keeps going the way he is, he could go down as one of the best.
“For his size, he’s really physical, he loves the contact. He’s quite abrasive but his skills, if you’ve seen him play, he’s got box kicks off left and right, fend with both hands.”
Kaino believed that France would be able to handle the loss of Ntamack, who suffered an ACL injury in the warm-up fixture with Scotland.
The former All Black gave some advice on how to stop France, the focus should not be on Dupont but on the pack in front of him.
“I think French rugby have built a good pool of players over the last couple of years.
“Any position they’ve got depth. Whoever fills in for Romain, I’m sure they will try keep similar cohesion, connection.
“For us, on the All Blacks side, the key is up front.
“Their forwards love pick and go, love mauls, I think for us, we saw that match in 2021 and that’s where it all started for their momentum. Up front.
“If we are able to do that, it makes it a bit harder for Antoine and whoever is at 10.”
It's great that the ABs have a source so close to him that they can tap for methods to close down Frances' HB pairing. One of the few benefits of Kiwi rugby players playing in every major team in the world is the knowledge they can then relay to the Black Machine
All blacks have Jason Ryan for the front row and no doubt that he will work this … he knows stop mauls and the front row all blacks will damage them .
Don’t forget Schmidt mastermind to nullify tactical rival .
France loves playing without possession and Schmidt built possession attack with Ireland and now with all blacks. For sure , with front row and backline carrying all blacks , they will beat France.