Ireland legend: Antoine Dupont is the ‘greatest rugby player’ who has ‘ever played the game’
Ireland great Conor Murray and an inset of France's Antoine Dupont.
Ireland and Lions great Conor Murray believes that not even Richie McCaw or Jonah Lomu were better players than Antoine Dupont is.
The 36-year-old retired scrum-half went toe-to-toe with some of the best the game has had to offer, but one man is clear of the pack: Dupont.
Murray locked horns with the France captain on multiple occasions during his time in the Munster and Ireland jersey, and ahead of the 2026 Six Nations, he has lavished praise on Les Bleus’ superstar.
Antoine Dupont is the best ever
He did so in his Irish Times column after commenting on Ireland’s prop injury crisis and how Michael Milne’s loan move has benefited the player.
“Sorry, this column was meant to be about the greatest rugby player I’ve ever come close to,” Murray wrote about Dupont.
“Best that’s ever played the game, in my mind. His name should not come as a surprise. Nines don’t really come into contact with each other that much. But Antoine Dupont is not really a scrumhalf. He’s a little bit of every position. Surely there’s never been a more freakishly powerful human who is only 5ft 9in tall.
“There was one time, Toulouse at Thomond Park, the last 16 match in 2021, when I blocked down his box kick. Jesus, I’m half winning this battle! I spoke way too soon. He ran in two late tries to end our European run. Lovely finishes both, sprinting after a line break and fending off the last defender.
“Dupont is the difference-maker in most games. You can’t distract him. He won’t retaliate.”
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Better than McCaw and Lomu
All Blacks legends McCaw and Lomu are regarded as the greatest players of the all time but Murray completely disagrees as he pointed to another occasion where Dupont stole the show and flexed his wide-ranging skillset.
“I know people will shout names such as Jonah Lomu and Richie McCaw,” he continued.
“But I’ve never seen a better player than Dupont. He’s pure class. A ridiculous player. Remember his defence against Leinster in the 2024 final? I counted four turnovers close to the Toulouse try line. He won the tournament on the ground.
“France have shaken off the 2023 World Cup hangover. It took a while. We were too devastated to notice the host nation being knocked out by South Africa a day after we lost to New Zealand. Same stadium. Same place Ireland and Milne are pulling a shift next Thursday.”
The former halfback predicts that France will use the Springboks’ victory over Ireland last November as a template to beat Andy Farrell’s charges in the Six Nations opener.
