Aaron Smith: ‘Antoine Dupont will be one of the greatest to play our game… he has changed rugby’
Antoine Dupont and Aaron Smith during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
One of the sport’s modern day greats, Aaron Smith, has heaped praise on Antoine Dupont and claimed the Frenchman will go down as one of the best ever to play rugby.
After the superstar playmaker led France to Olympic gold, a debate has started as to who is the game’s GOAT (greatest of all time).
Many believe that Dupont is in that conversation and Smith appears to be in agreement having both watched and played against him.
The All Blacks legend was considered the best scrum-half in rugby until Dupont appeared on the scene and began to dominate matches with his incredible ability.
‘Pure class’
“He’s still young… And when it’s all said and done, he will be one of the greatest to play our game,” Smith wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“He’s already probably the greatest of this generation. He has changed rugby. He’s not just a halfback; he is pure class.”
It is not the first time Smith has praised Dupont’s quality as three years ago he wrote on social media: “This guy is on another level! No one is near him atm. He’s the point of difference for both his club and country. He’s helping me look at parts of my game to improve.”
The former All Black also spoke about Dupont in the build-up to their Rugby World Cup opener in 2023, which Les Bleus won 27-13.
“Antoine Dupont is an amazing athlete and player,” he said at the time. “He has proved in the last few years, when he’s been receiving awards, that he’s a key figurehead.
“From everything I have seen of him, he has taken it all in his stride. I am sure there is lots of pressure but that seems to help his game.
“The bigger the stage, he usually stands up. I hope he’s feeling the pressure, but there’s more than Antoine in this game. He knows he has got the whole country behind him.”
Dan Carter’s praise
Smith played plenty of his international career alongside Dan Carter. They were often in sync on the field and they seem to be the same off it with the ex-fly-half impressed by Dupont’s switch to sevens.
“It’s been incredible. Not many people will realise that since rugby sevens became an Olympic sport the game has really turned with these professional athletes,” the All Blacks legend told Discovery+ at the weekend.
“Rugby sevens and rugby XVs, they’re two different sports and a lot of players have tried to cross over and really struggled.
“I think a lot of people underestimate how difficult it is to go from XVs to sevens, so for Dupont to be able to do that seamlessly and have success immediately, it just goes to show what an incredible athlete he is.
“I’m sure he’s still learning and adjusting to the game but you wouldn’t know when you go and watch him.
“There’s been a couple of key moments when the French team needed him where he stepped up and scored incredible tries. His ability to come on at the end of the game and open it up, he’s a freak.”
