Antoine Dupont hailed as ‘Maradona of rugby’ as he leaves fans gobsmacked by first-half masterclass
Antoine Dupont in action v Wales in the 2025 Six Nations
Antoine Dupont returned to the Six Nations with a mighty bang starring as France raced to a 28-0 half-time lead over Wales.
The French captain missed last year’s Championship to chase Olympic Gold at Paris 2024 with France falling short in the Six Nations in his absence.
Dupont’s first-half masterclass
However, he returned in emphatic fashion in the opening game against Wales at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday evening with a mind-blowing first-half performance having a hand in just about everything that France did well.
He finished the half with three try assists, setting up young speedster Théo Attissogbe twice and fellow winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey before the break.
After a tense start to the half, Dupont broke the game wide open when he delivered an inch-perfect crosskick for Attissogbe to score out wide.
Antoine Dupont doing Antoine Dupont things. 😍
A stunning kick from the French captain. 🎯 #FRAvWALpic.twitter.com/6Oo0AAY50N
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) January 31, 2025
Bielle-Biarrey would go over next after a neatly worked move before Dupont shone again as he cantered through a gap in the Welsh defence and sprinted towards the try line before throwing a wide ball out to Attissogbe.
He would have the final say of the half, too, as he linked up with Bielle-Biarrey to bring up the bonus-point try.
Dupont’s first 40 minutes set social media alight with fans praising the scrum-half’s performance.
Reaction
Planet Rugby’s own James While, in attendance at the Stade de France, was awestruck.
“Been writing on rugby for 20 years and my jaw is hitting the floor at Dupont tonight,” his post on X read.
That was a theme among fans.
“As a South African, I’m saying this. Antoine Dupont is the greatest player we might have ever seen. Just ridiculous,” @SaffasRugby remarked.
While popular Welsh columnist, Paul Williams went in search of some kind of shortcoming.
“Only problem Dupont has. Is he’s got a slight bald patch coming, visible on the overhead camera. Other than that, I don’t know how to attack him,” he wrote.
Fred Sirieix believes that “Dupont is the Maradona of rugby. Insane talent!” while Jamie Lyall added that “he sees the game in slow motion. Effortless grace followed by ruthless action.”
Commenting on Attissogbe’s second try, ex-England fly-half Andy Goode felt for Welsh full-back Liam Williams who “had his ankles snapped by Antoine Dupont”.
Welshman Will Owen asked if France could “sub off Dupont at half time please? He’s literally too good for this.”
Dupont was substituted just 10 minutes into the second half.
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