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'That is a good observation backed up by measurement': Why England have Dupont in their sights

(Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)

England defence coach John Mitchell has a simple instruction for his players this Saturday at Twickenham: Get Dupont. Unlike most other Test teams, France play mostly off their scrum-half and it has resulted in Antoine Dupont becoming one of the stars so far in the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.

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Having overcome his recent positive test for Covid-19 after France had started the championship with away wins over Italy and Ireland, the 24-year-old is now coming to London looking to keep alive his country’s Grand Slam bid.

France had their round three home game against Scotland postponed due to the virus outbreak which affected a dozen players and four staff, meaning their 31-strong squad will have not played Test rugby in 27 days when they take the field next Saturday at Twickenham.

But England defence coach Mitchell saw enough in the French displays in Rome and Dublin to know they must shackle Dupont if they are to get their own campaign back on track following February defeats to Scotland and Wales.

“Yeah, that is a good observation backed up by measurement as well,” said Mitchell when asked if the French were unusual in playing so much off their No9. “They are putting close to 60 per cent off nine. It just goes to show you very simply run to the line and then make decisions off the speed of that ball.”

Asked what England will look to do to limit Dupont’s influence, Mitchell added: “Stop him from running, I reckon. He can run. A really good player, likes to influence the game, backs his strengths, is a huge influence on how the French team plays. Looking forward to taking away what he has.

“He runs, he has good vision, he has got awareness I guess of defenders when he goes to the breakdown on either side of the ruck. He also tends not to be premeditated. I guess he makes a lot of decisions based on what is in front of him.

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“He has a good skill set and he is physically put together really well. He is powerful, he has got a good fend as you have seen and some of the ways he goes around defenders rather than on their inside, and his support play is second to none in how he anticipates beyond the ball on situations to support.”

Rugby fans in general often talk about French flair in attack but Mitchell doesn’t view them in that way. “They are still heavily focused on a long kicking game and they are still heavily focused on trying to get attacking lineouts in the attacking half and that is really where their game has been built on.

“Some people have a perception of French players as being expressive, flamboyant, keeping the ball alive, they still have that ability and they are still very good in space but this very successful French team is somewhat conservative in the sense that it is trying to win the kicking game, trying to win the territory and then get its opportunities to pounce.

“They are a far more patient side that waits for their opportunity, that is prepared to stay disciplined and tactically disciplined in the way that they play.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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