Antoine Dupont's return to the Six Nations was nothing short of spectacular. The French star orchestrated a 43-0 victory over Wales, showcasing his exceptional skills and cementing his status as a complete rugby player.
Antoine Dupont made a triumphant return to the Six Nations, proving his status as a complete rugby player in France 's commanding 43-0 victory over Wales in Paris. Dupont missed last year's tournament as he pursued a spot on France 's rugby sevens team for the Paris Olympics, where he ultimately helped France secure gold with a brace of tries in the final. This success silenced those who questioned his decision to prioritize sevens over the national 15s team.
Beyond his Olympic triumph, Dupont enjoyed a remarkable year, winning the French Top 14 and Champions Cup double with Toulouse and guiding France to an undefeated November series. Against Wales, Dupont showcased his vast range of skills, excelling in both defense and attack. He thwarted a potential Welsh offensive with a perfectly timed tackle on Nick Tompkins and delivered a stunning assist with a pinpoint cross-field kick that found Theo Attissogbe unmarked. His clever break saw him step past Liam Williams and execute a looped pass for another try. Dupont's brilliance continued with a smart grubber that nearly put Louis Bielle-Biarrey through and a precise 20-meter pass that set up another touchdown. His three assists helped France build a 28-0 halftime lead to the delight of the Stade de France crowd. This marked the second time Dupont achieved a hat-trick of try assists in a Six Nations match, following his four against Italy in 2021. He now boasts 20 assists in the Championship, second only to veteran Irish scrum-half Conor Murray. Dupont thrived alongside his Toulouse teammate Romain Ntamack, who made his first France start in 17 months after overcoming a string of injuries. Thomas Ramos also contributed effectively from full-back. France coach Fabien Galthie opted to substitute Dupont in the 49th minute, preserving his star player for future challenges. Looking ahead to their trip to England next weekend, Dupont expressed confidence while acknowledging the challenge: 'They've had some complicated results, they lost some of their matches in November, but we will take the games one by one. They have a squad which is gaining momentum. We know what it is like to go and play at Twickenham. But the Championship is long, it was important to start well today.
RUGBY SIX NATIONS FRANCE WALES ANTOINE DUPONT VICTORY TRY ASSIST PERFORMANCE
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