One week before receiving Vannes, Saturday October 19, 2024, Clermont suffered the law of the thunderous return of French scrum half Antoine Dupont in Top 14, author of a hat-trick in 36 minutes of play, Saturday October 12, 2024 (48-14 ), for the sixth day of the championship. Two and a half months after his coronation at the Paris Games, the French rugby superstar played his first minutes of the season, coming on in the 45th minute to a standing ovation from the Ernest-Wallon stadium.
And the least we can say is that it didn’t take long for him to find his feet again.
In a game already well underway for Toulouse, thanks to tries from winger Ange Capuozzo (27th) and hooker Peato Mauvaka (35th), the international scrum half only needed four minutes to flatten in the Clermont goal (49th).
After a try that he gave himself, Dupont scored two more in quick succession, first on the reception of an inside delivery from Capuozzo, then from a long play at the foot of the Italian international (56′, 58′). All for a breathtaking hat-trick scored in just 13 minutes after coming on, his first since 2018.
Clermont first solid
After the exit of full-back Thomas Ramos, author of Toulouse’s sixth try (72′), Antoine Dupont switched to the position of flyhalf. With this improved success, Stade Toulouse returns to second place and turns the page on the two defeats in Castres and against Bordeaux-Bègles.
Solid in defense for 20 minutes, the Clermontois then collapsed in the face of the Toulouse attacks. Penalized 14 times, despite Dupont’s fury, they managed to score two tries in the second half thanks to third row Kilian Tixeront (52′) and center Pierre Fouyssac (62′).
On the next day, Stade Toulouse will have the opportunity to confirm its success on the Pau pitch while Clermont will try to maintain its invincibility at home against Vannes. The Vannes residents fell to Montpellier (24-27) earlier in the day.
