After his team’s success over Exeter in the Champions Cup (21-64), Antoine Dupont wanted to send a message to the refereeing body. The Stade Toulousain scrum-half has been targeted several times by late tackles and he believes that we should be more attentive to these playing situations.
Could there be an anti-Dupont plan put in place by the European teams? Considered one of the best players in the world, if not the best, Antoine Dupont was the subject of special treatment from the players ofExeterwith numerous fairly limited delayed tackles. This did not prevent him from scoring a try, even if he appeared to be injured in the hand after the match.
“It’s dangerous and against the spirit of the game to tackle a player late”
In the mixed zone, the French star gave a rather noticeable rant to the attention of the referees. “ I don’t understand why this wasn’t punished more. It can only be dangerous and against the spirit of the game to tackle a player late. It happened to me four or five times in the first half. » declared Antoine Dupont. “ Afterwards, I take risks, I know that I have a game where I carry the ball but once I have made the pass, they do not have the right to send me back or keep me on the ground. These are strategies that teams can apply but are prohibited. I hope this will be more sanctioned in the future ».
“He is right to point it out, it’s not normal”
Pour Vincent Moscatothe captain of the Toulouse Stadium was right to speak out publicly on this subject. “ He’s right, I have the impression that it was still an attack. They want to kill him! » explained the former hooker, on RMC Sport. « It’s very unpleasant when they delay you, when they hold you back to prevent you from being on the next action. It’s very annoying, especially for a scrum half, who must ensure the link in the game. After a while it must irritate him. He is very sober in what he says, because he could have gotten angry. He is right to point this out, this is not normal. The referees must become aware of this and whistle a penalty. If they start throwing boxes, the players will be wary ».
