Top 14 – Toulouse – “Mediocrity will be blamed on him”: Antoine Dupont, a return and expectations

He had already shown up, even though he didn’t have to. Several appearances in training since the start of the season, during his time off. A way of reminding us that, even absent, even on “rest”, Antoine Dupont remained concerned, involved, and professional. But this time it’s different. The holidays are over, it’s time to get back to work. Monday, in front of a small pack of journalists and photographers, he was there in training, because he had to be there. This weekend, during the 6th day of the Top 14, he is expected. As a starter or as a joker, to see.

“It’s really good to see him back with ustold La Dépêche du Midi the Australian second line at Stade Toulousain, Richie Arnold. He looks perfectly rested, having had a good time in the United States. He will bring us all his energy and we hope to see him on the field as soon as possible.” It should therefore be on Saturday against Clermont, at Ernest-Wallon. Everyone is happy to see him again, except, perhaps, the Auvergnats. “Couldn’t he have waited another week? We’re out of luck…” half-laughed, the flyhalf of the Clermont opponents, Benjamin Urdapilleta, at the microphone of Sud Radio.

Antoine Dupont has changed dimensions again this year. This summer, even. His Top 14 – European Cup double in the spring with Toulouse further solidified his status as a rugby megastar, but his Olympic title at the Stade de France in rugby sevens reinforced his popularity and his media reach. He weighs in French sport. During his vacation in the United States, we saw him rub shoulders with LeBron James and Lionel Messi and gently test himself in NFL training with the Los Angeles Chargers. He flies to heights probably never seen before for a French rugby player.

Ugo Mola is obviously delighted to have his leader back. The Haut-Garonne manager is not unaware of the place and stature taken by the Dupont character, but he is not worried about it. “Antoine and his gang are boys who manage their asides quite well, who do not pollute themselves or at least little with external demands, and who remain boys who are passionate about their sport“, he assured Thursday at a press conference.

Comments that echo those he made a few weeks ago, when we asked him if it was complicated to manage a “star”: “As long as you have the activity, in this case rugby, which is at the center of the common interest, we always find compromises. When the rest takes over, it’s no longer compromise, it’s compromise, so there it’s more complicated.”

We are clearly not there yet. Antoine Dupont is too intelligent and too involved to cross this Rubicon. In short, it goes without saying but perhaps it goes even better by saying it. For Ugo Mola, it is undoubtedly also a way of keeping his scrum half under pressure. Yes, he has a special place in the group, but there is no question of enjoying the slightest privilege.

It would even be quite the opposite. The manager had spoken of a “form of obligation” when Dupont visited training in September, even though he was officially on vacation. “The more he advances, the more he pushes the cursor where mediocrity, or neutral performance, will be criticized.Mola still believes. He knows it and he must work accordingly. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why he doesn’t hang out too much on vacation.“.

However, the manager of the Rouge et Noir is aware that the break granted to Dupont was useful. Essential, even, after a year where he was constantly in demand. “When you have eleven months of season, you know that the physical, physiological and psychological impact is relatively heavy to manage. This is valid for a young guy as well as a more seasoned boy. Antoine is one of those players who are in high demand in their environment other than that of Stade Toulousain where they are also in high demand. You have to manage that but it’s not hard to manage this kind of players.”

Especially when the contribution and impact of the player in question is so massive. No one is essential or irreplaceable, but Toulouse, certainly not in crisis but a little struggling after two defeats in a row, really needs the return of its emblematic figure to find new momentum. “Antoine, due to his performances, no longer needs to be presented, smiles Mola. But beyond that, it is the 10 or 15% that he gives to all his partners through the trust that he arouses, that he generates and which reflects on others. This thing should not be underestimated.“. With Dupont, nothing should be underestimated.