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All Blacks great Aaron Smith wades into Antoine Dupont GOAT debate
By
Josh Raisey
Since Antoine Dupont produced a second-half masterclass to secure France Sevens an Olympic gold medal at the Stade de France, social media has played host to one of the fiercest debates rugby has seen in recent years: is Dupont the greatest player of all time?
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Fans and pundits have been busy laying their cases for why the Frenchman is or is not the GOAT, and now one of his former rivals has joined the debate.
Former All Black Aaron Smith has provided his take, saying the scrumhalf is “probably the greatest of this generation” on X.
The 2015 World Cup winner had long been regarded as the premier No.9 in world rugby until Dupont usurped him, but Smith has described his former counterpart as “not just a halfback”.
Smith did not, however, conclusively say whether the 2021 World Rugby player of the year is the GOAT yet, but said that he is still young.
He’s still young… And when it’s all said and done, he will be one of the greatest to play our game. He’s already probably the greatest of this generation. He has changed rugby. He’s not just a halfback; he is pure class.
— Aaron Smith (@Te_Nug) July 31, 2024
“He’s still young…” the 124-cap All Black said. “And when it’s all said and done, he will be one of the greatest to play our game. He’s already probably the greatest of this generation. He has changed rugby. He’s not just a halfback; he is pure class.”
Smith, who is now plying his trade for Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One, brought his rivalry to a close with Dupont at the World Cup last year, with the All Blacks‘ pool stage loss to France likely to be his last encounter with the gold medallist.
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This is not the first time that Smith has showered the Toulouse scrumhalf in praise either.
In February 2021, before Dupont had won a Grand Slam or player of the year, the former Highlander said that he was “on another level” and that “no one is near him”.
Three years later, few would have foreseen how much better the Olympian would get.
@Dupont9A this guy is on another level! No one is near him atm. He’s the point of difference for both his Club and country. He’s helping me look at parts of my game to improve #Respect #9Gang
— Aaron Smith (@Te_Nug) February 10, 2021
No one in the modern era comes close to DuPont in terms of the influence he has on a game. People who disagree have one thing in common - they have probably have not watched him play that much. There are many many people from NZ with very strong opinions about rugby, who because of the time difference, probably don’t watch any 6 nations other than some highlights, probably only watch the ABs NH games, and definitely don’t watch any Top14 or Heineken Cup.
If you are commenting on how good or not DuPont is ask yourself how many of his games you have actually watched? He has played over 180 games for Castres and Toulouse, and over 50 for France - how many of those games have you ACTUALLY watched?
He can pass like Aaron Smith, has the vision of Carter, can pull off one off moments of magic like prime Beauden or Mo’unga, he is as good as any flanker in the world over the ball, and his ball carrying is in another league to any other 9 that has ever played - as evidenced in his almost impossibly good transition to 7s. Even in that version of the sport where freakish athleticism is table stakes, he still stands out as one of the best.
Other than being from NZ, what more would he have to do to be considered the GOAT?
He is a great player but if he's to reach the sort of GOAT status that others have suggested he needs to prove himself on more than one continent. I’m not sure how he's got to this point and hasn't, but the way he's playing he should go well if given the opportunity?
As an ABs supporter i’d certainly put Lomu and even Christian Cullen in a similar league with their ability to impact a game in both the 15s and 7s. Would've been interesting if the 7s was in the Olympics back then.
What else would one expect from Aaron Smith other than humility and respect by elevating the status of another because dupont deserves the accolade and that process is called “manakitanga”.
Du Pont and Dan Carter can do it all, defence, attack, etc etc etc. But if I put it to the old schoolyard test, choosing teams from the best players ever, and I got the first choice, it would always be Dan Carter, because, as well as being a playmaker per excellence, like Du Pont, he’s also probably the best clutch goal-kicker and drop-kicker of all time.
Dupont hasn’t won a World Cup (he had a great chance last year but France choked), hasn’t beaten South Africa, Australia or New Zealand on their home turf, and hasn’t reached the same level of celebrity and status as Jonah Lomu (non-rugby fans from countries all over the world know who Jonah is, and nobody has reached that level since).
He could be considered the best player of this generation (and he’s competing with Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett and Eben Etzebeth in that regard) but of all time? Even George Gregan, Joost van der Westhuizen and Aaron Smith could be considered superior halfbacks. Maybe he’s the best halfback ever from Europe when you consider those three. There is an element of bias because of recency and he’s European-based where there’s a big media and fan focus on their 6 Nations and club comps.
The GOAT is either Dan Carter or Richie McCaw - who to choose is up to you.
I think the generational best is fair. Same could be said about Jonah Lomu. Neither had the luck to win a RWC final which shouldn’t preclude them. The only argument the naysayers have is to claim these great players are not elibible to be in the conversation due to this technicality. Lomu and DoPont are elibible for greatest in era/generation debate. GOAT always favours the more recent players (unless a Diego Maradona type phenonemom). Is Dupont Rugby’s Maradona?