Israel Dagg hails ‘absolute freak’ Antoine Dupont and offers theory for All Blacks Sevens’ lack of XVs stars
Antoine Dupont celebrating try against Argentina at Olympics and ex-All Blacks Israel Dagg.
All Blacks great Israel Dagg has praised the talents of France superstar Antoine Dupont and discussed why other XVs players haven’t switched to sevens.
The 27-year-old has divided his time between the two formats in 2024, missing the Six Nations to help the country win their first World Rugby SVNS Series title in 19 years.
Dupont then returned to Toulouse and transitioned back comfortably as he played a key role in the club winning both the Champions Cup and Top 14.
Now back in sevens for the Olympics, the playmaker has helped France to the semi-finals following a superb 26-14 triumph over Argentina in the last-eight.
Two games away
He showed his class and confidence to score with the final play to take them into that encounter with South Africa, putting the nation just two wins away from a gold medal.
In contrast, Dagg’s New Zealand are out, suffering a shock defeat to the Blitzboks that ended their chances of Olympic glory.
Appearing on SENZ Breakfast, the All Blacks great delved into whether New Zealand’s XVs stars could have featured in the competition considering Dupont’s success.
“You think back to 2016 when there were conversations about all these 15s players; your Ben Smith’s, your Sonny Bill Williams’ and everyone that was trying to have a crack at going to the Rio Olympics,” Dagg said.
“It’s not as easy as you probably think. Antoine Dupont is making it look relatively easy but the other players, they struggle, man. It is totally different. The body has to be in different shape, you have to lose a hell of a lot of muscle and body fat to play that sport.
“It is fast, it is tiring and you have to take a lot of commitment and that’s probably why you don’t see a lot of these New Zealand 15s players playing because of the commitment, they cannot commit.
“Would you like to see a Ardie Savea or would you like to see someone step away from their 15-a-side game for two years to have a crack at the Olympics? I know Antoine Dupont has made it look easy but he’s an absolute freak.
“But it ain’t that easy.”
Olympic Games: South Africa stun New Zealand while Antoine Dupont adds gloss to famous France win
Sevens evolution
When rugby became an Olympic sport ahead of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, several XVs players tried their hand at the shorter form of the game, but Dagg feels that the sport has continued to develop and become even more specialised.
“Now there is a specialist contract available for these players to be able to play sevens throughout… a circuit that has evolved,” he said.
“That’s why you probably don’t know them because a lot of these players are playing that sport for years and years and years… they don’t play the high-profile sports that is the representation of Super Rugby etc.”
New Zealand were one of the favourites for the title, along with Fiji and Argentina, but they suffered a gut-wrenching defeat in the quarter-finals and Dagg sympathised with the players.
“I totally agree, these players will be heartbroken. They’ll be devastated with what’s gone on but the pressure and the expectation of the public, particularly here in New Zealand, it weighs heavily on these players,” he added.
“When those small margins of error and pressure creep in, it does absolutely funny things.”
