another very good praise for Antoine Dupont, from a number 9 of the Top 14

During his visit to the United States, Antoine Dupont met a lot of people, including Lionel Messi. Excuse me a little. And Lionel Messi, that’s good, he’s precisely the person to whom another scrum half compares Antoine Dupont.

This scrum half is none other than the neighbor of Castres Olympique, Santiago Arata. The Uruguayan, speaking on FR-UK Rugby, loudly proclaimed his admiration for the Toulouse native. Arata knows what he’s talking about having faced Dupont in the Top 14 several times. And he believes that the French international’s talent pushes each player, or at least each competitor for the 9 position, to try to surpass themselves. An inspiring example.

He is the best number 9 in the world. I don’t say that because everyone says it, but because I played against him. He’s an incredible player. Every time I play against him, it’s an opportunity to show that I know how to defend well. It’s one of the best challenges in the world of rugby. Every time I play against him or watch him play, I learn something different.

Dupont and Messi, same fight

One of the details that makes Antoine Dupont strong: his versatility. While he is a complete scrum-half, he also does very well as a fly-half. This 9-10 hybrid profile is one of a kind for Santiago Arata: “He plays like a number 10 but in the number 9 position. He sees things that scrum-halves don’t normally see. Normally, a number 9 focuses on the ruck. He’s like a fly-half, like Lionel Messi , he sees what is happening everywhere.“

It’s up to Antoine Dupont to prove that nothing has changed in this new season, his return being impatiently awaited, but which should not be long before? Facing Clermont this weekend? Perhaps since the scrum-half has returned to training with Toulouse. To be continued…