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Why 'it was scary' for Antoine Dupont to play sevens again after 10 years
By Finn Morton
SVNS Series debutant Antoine Dupont has explained why “it was scary” to make the switch from 15s to sevens in a bid to be part of France’s squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics in July.
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Dupont is widely considered to be one of the top rugby players on the planet, with some going as far as to suggest that the Frenchman is the best there is.
But after it was revealed in November that the former World Rugby 15s Player of the Year would switch to rugby’s other format, Dupont described the move as a “little bit scary.”
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In an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live in December, Dupont said: “I will have a very busy year, but I love that and I am excited. It’s very exciting but a little bit scary.”
But Dupont, who captained France at last year’s Rugby World Cup on home soil, hasn’t exactly looked out of place after debuting on the SVNS Series on Day One in Vancouver.
Wearing the No. 25 jersey, Dupont came off the pine during France’s 24-12 win over the United States and again started on the bench later on Friday against Samoa.
Dupont took another step forward with a try-scoring start against Australia on Saturday. But the 27-year-old insists he still has plenty to “learn” about the fast-paced world of sevens.
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“You just have to watch the guys on the pitch to understand why it was scary,” Dupont told RugbyPass on Day Two at SVNS Vancouver.
“There are very fast guys and they’ve known this game for a very long time. I’m new on the Series so I have to learn.
“I have to do my best from the first game until the last.”
Dupont wouldn’t have played anything more than eight minutes on the opening day at SVNS Vancouver, but the Frenchmen showed enough to pique the interest of fans worldwide.
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With a reputation for attacking flair and rugby genius, it was only a matter of time until he had his moment. That chance came during a big win over Australia in pool play.
Dupont started ahead of Series regular Stephen Parez-Edo Martin and made the most of the opportunity by scoring his first try on the SVNS Series.
From a scrum, Dupont gathered the ball before dancing around defender Matt Gonzalez, and the SVNS recruit had the pace to burn as the playmaker ran in untouched for the score.
“All the action on the field makes me more confident,” Dupont said.
“I have to spend time on the field, spend time with the guys to know them better.
“I have to learn every minute when I am on the field.”
There have been a lot of genuinely gifted rugby players who have graced the sevens field. New Zealanders Sonny Bill Williams and Ardie Savea, Australia’s Quade Cooper and South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe and Bryan Habana are among a short list of names.
But Dupont is the latest to make the headline-grabbing switch – at least for now with former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper committing to Australia’s sevens program before the Games.
As Dupont revealed to RugbyPass, it’s his first time playing rugby’s shorter format in a decade.
“I played a lot when I was 16, 17 years old,” Dupont explained.
“After I became pro it was more difficult to play sevens so I just watched the game on TV and I watched a lot of players who are here now.
“It’s a pleasure to play against them.”
