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Fans are waking up with a realisation that France may have the world's best at scrumhalf
The 2020 Six Nations has seen a resurgent France win their first two games under Fabien Galthie around a core group of young French talent.
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None more so integral than Toulouse scrum-half Antoine Dupont, who has taken the online world by storm after a dazzling display against England in Paris and again in Rome against Italy.
The 23-year-old is a skillful dynamo with an explosive running game not seen by a scrumhalf in a long time. He has clocked 138 running metres over two weeks, the most by any 9 in the competition, and has the second-most offloads while providing two try assists so far.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8XAkXZA_rN/
The scrumhalf showed Faf De Klerk-like defence by obliterating Willie Heinz from the base of the scrum against England, while his step is as elusive as Aaron Smith in his younger days.
Dupont has been in the national setup for some time, debuting in 2017 against Italy in the Six Nations before turning in an eye-catching performance against the All Blacks in Paris on the end of year Autumn Internationals. Despite his age, there have been calls for Dupont to take over the 9 jersey full time ever since.
After taking over during the Rugby World Cup, Dupont has opened the 2020 Six Nations with growing admiration from fans, being judged ‘best scrumhalf in the Northern Hemisphere’ and ‘the real deal’.
Antoine Dupont. Best scrum-half in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment?
— Owain Jones (@OwainJTJones) February 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/Dpotterr97/status/1226532378128134145
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Antoine Dupont= best 9 in the world #FRAvENG #SixNations
— JOD (@Jack_ODonnell10) February 2, 2020
Antoine Dupont is a different level of class
— Luke Reynolds (@reynolds_l_) February 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/HywelDaniel/status/1224066056181944334
Antoine DuPont is Brilliant best I’ve seen at scrum half !
Nick Tomkins should easily start he’s on form plays for the top side in Europe .!— Phil Doyle (@DoyleComedy) February 4, 2020
Antoine Dupont is a class 9, best scrumhalf performance ive seen up to date
— cina (@afifikmal__) February 3, 2020
The signs have been there for a long time with his performances in the Top 14 now translating to the international level. How long will it be before he is considered the world’s best 9?
Antoine Dupont is on ???
Will he light things up against Italy? #SixNations pic.twitter.com/oevdizAIFe
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) February 8, 2020
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