Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Sunday October 20, 2024 at 1:56 p.m.
If he did not score for his first start of the season in Pau, where Stade Toulousain won (22-14), Antoine Dupont was the author of a high-class gesture, with a chistera for Guillaume Cramont’s essay.
While waiting for the move of the now ex-leader, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, to the pitch of Stade Rochelais on Sunday evening (9:05 p.m.), at the end of the 7th day of Top 14, Stade Toulousain has (provisionally?) taken over at the top of the ranking thanks to its 22-15 victory in Pau on Saturday, the second in a row after that against Clermont (48-14).
A match which marked the great return of Antoine Dupont. After having benefited from an extended vacation following his gold medal won with the French rugby sevens team at the Paris Olympic Games, the man who also enjoyed an American break returned as he left, with a performance capital letter and three tries in ten minutes when he entered the second half.
At Hameau, he was expected at the opening for his first start of the season, in the absence of Romain Ntamack (injured) and Thomas Romas (rested). But it was ultimately the Argentinian Juan-Cruz Mallia who was aligned as number 10, with Dupont playing in his preferred position, even if he can play almost anywhere, from scrum half. And if “Toto” did not score this time, he was still able to admire his (immense) talent against the Palois who did not let themselves be counted out but ended up giving in for the first time since November 2020 against the Rouge et Noir.
Dupont notably made a very classy gesture, sealing his team’s success in the 64th minute by offering Guillaume Cramont the winning try on a very inspired chistera. A magnificent gesture which he then dedicated to the New Zealander Benji Marshall, former (great) rugby league player. “Thanks for the inspiration, Benji Marshall,” he wrote in an Instagram story.
