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La seule fois où Antoine Dupont a joué dans l’hémisphère Sud

Le Sud-Africain Coenie Oosthuizen (C) est plaqué par le Français Antoine Dupont alors qu'il marque un essai lors du test-match entre l'Afrique du Sud et la France au Kingspark rugby stadium, le 17 juin 2017 à Durban. / AFP PHOTO / ANESH DEBIKY (Le crédit photo doit se lire ANESH DEBIKY/AFP via Getty Images)

Il fut un temps où Antoine Dupont n’était pas le plus grand joueur au monde et l’incontournable qu’il est devenu au fil des ans. En 2017, c’était le cas.

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Cette année-là, le jeune demi de mêlée de Castres (attendu la saison suivante à Toulouse), vit tout juste ses premières sélections en équipe de France sous l’égide de Guy Novès. Il n’a que 20 ans et figure déjà depuis un an sur la liste développement de 30 joueurs de moins de 23 ans à fort potentiel qui intéresse le XV de France.

Appelé en dernière minute pour remplacer Machenaud

« On suit ce jeune demi de mêlée depuis la saison dernière », explique alors le sélectionneur qui l’a appelé en dernière minute pour remplacer Maxime Machenaud, blessé.

« On attend qu’il joue avec ses qualités, avec son insouciance, même si on lui a fait passer quelques messages. Mais il ne peut pas tout ingurgiter en quarante-huit heures…»

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Son premier match est une victoire contre l’Italie dans le Tournoi des Six Nations (18-40) où il remplace Baptiste Serin pour les six dernières minutes. Il jouera un peu plus longtemps la semaine suivante contre le Pays de Galles où il entre en jeu à la 19e minute, toujours à la place de Serin. Ce match remporté 20-18 est encore aujourd’hui considéré comme l’un des plus importants entre les deux équipes. Déjà, Dupont entre dans la légende.

67 minutes de jeu au niveau international

A ce moment-là, Antoine Dupont n’a que 67 minutes de temps de jeu au niveau international quand Novès le retient pour sa tournée en Afrique du Sud où trois matchs sont prévus contre les Springboks. Dupont l’admet en conférence de presse, il arrive « encore un peu sur la pointe des pieds » dans cette grande équipe.

Mais cette fois, il arrive mieux préparé. « Je n’en suis qu’à mes débuts, je suis en phase de découverte », déclare-t-il en toute humilité. « Je n’ai pas de problème à annoncer, parler sur le terrain. Mais lors des réunions, des séances vidéo, je ne vais pas me mettre en avant. Déjà ce n’est pas ma nature, et ce n’est pas à moi de le faire ici. »

Dupont ne disputera qu’un seul test, le deuxième le 17 juin au Kings Park Stadium de Durban. Une fois encore il est remplaçant de Baptiste Serin (sanctionné pour être passé à côté de son match) et entre à la 56e minute de jeu. Au cours de ces 24 minutes où il se confronte notamment à Siya Kolisi, le futur champion du monde, il ne pourra pas inverser la courbe de la défaite qui se profile (37-15).

Jeu déprimant

La presse juge le jeu des Français « déprimant ». « Les joueurs de Guy Novès ont certes tenu le ballon mais leurs attaques ont manqué de vitesse, de génie, d’imagination, de créativité. Les Tricolores ont tapé sur le mur sud-africain, sans réellement le faire bouger », écrit le Midi Olympique.

« Ressorts cassés, les Français subissaient dans les rucks en allant trop vite au sol, ne franchissaient pas, jouaient devant la défense, flanchaient en mêlée et encaissaient deux buts de pénalité », commente L’Équipe.

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Seule satisfaction, la performance du jeune Damian Penaud (20 ans), alors trois-quarts centre, qui vit là sa première titularisation. Le remontage de bretelles du président Laporte sitôt être descendu de l’avion le matin même n’a pas servi d’électrochoc. C’est dans cette ambiance de fin de règle que va éclore Antoine Dupont.

Le retour à Durban, huit ans après

Cette tournée sera fatale à Guy Novès qui sera poussé vers la sortie par Laporte en fin d’année après avoir essuyé d’autres échecs à Paris et notamment un humiliant match nul face au Japon en novembre.

Personne ne le sait encore, mais ces quelques minutes seront les seules que Dupont aura joué dans l’hémisphère Sud… jusqu’à probablement le 11 janvier 2024 où le Stade Toulousain affrontera les Hollywoodbets Sharks dans le même stade, huit ans après et où il pourrait être aligné.

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Hormis la Coupe du Monde de Rugby au Japon en 2019, Antoine Dupont n’a en fait jamais joué en dehors de l’Europe et c’est justement ce point qui est discuté par ceux qui lui contestent son statut de GOAT. Absent des tournées estivales du fait de la présence de Toulouse dans les phases finales du Top 14, son expérience internationale s’est toujours concentrée en France, en Italie et au Royaume-Uni.

Et la prochaine fois avec le XV de France pourrait bien être à l’occasion de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2027 en Australie.

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Visionnez gratuitement le documentaire en cinq épisodes “Chasing the Sun 2” sur RugbyPass TV (*non disponible en Afrique), qui raconte le parcours des Springboks dans leur quête pour défendre avec succès leur titre de Champions du monde de rugby

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