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Watch: Dupont celebrates World Player of the Year with 'cheat code' display
By Sam Smith
Fresh off winning the World Rugby Player of the Year award, Toulouse scrumhalf Antoine Dupont showed his class against a Cardiff side missing a whopping 42 players in the opening round of the Heineken Champions Cup.
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Despite a valiant showing by a depleted Cardiff side, it was never going to be enough when part-timers were called upon to overcome the might of Toulouse, who comfortably won 39-7.
At the heart of it was France’s star 9 Antoine Dupont, whose ability was heightened when pitted against what could be considered half-pro players. He had two monster line breaks in the first half, one coming from a scrum and another from a quick line out.
Dupont??Ntamack??Jelonch
Too good from Toulouse#CARvTLS #CARST #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/i4aTI8t6EH
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) December 11, 2021
Romain Ntamack on his Toulouse team-mate Antoine Dupont:
“He’s walking on water right now.” pic.twitter.com/cvCAobIagy
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) December 11, 2021
His dazzling running game was on show again in the second half when he picked up a loose ball at the back of the lineout and masterfully dissected the Cardiff defence for an incredible individual try.
The 25-year-old followed that up with a cross-field kick from the base of the ruck that hit his winger on the chest for another Toulouse try.
It’s Antoine Dupont’s ball and everyone else is just borrowing it#CARvTLS #CARST #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/x3tI0KV1qe
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) December 11, 2021
The year is 26 AD [Antoine Dupont].
ADVERTISEMENTAntoine Dupont continues to perform magic on the rugby pitch. pic.twitter.com/JdCcsr2daM
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) December 11, 2021
Basically Antoine Dupont has discovered a cheat code for “rugby”. And then, after using that cheat code, decides to implement a further God Mode.
Everyone else just looks on, slightly confused, and wonders what this alien lifeforms is and where he came from.
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) December 11, 2021
Antoine Dupont wearing the “no can tackle me” suit again ?? #CARvTOU
— nemzy (@nemani_nadolo) December 11, 2021
Antoine Dupont’s jack-hammer hand-off reminded this ageing correspondent of Gareth Edwards in his pomp. So, fitting that the great man should be at the Arms Park today to watch the French masterclass in person. C’est magnifique.
— Simon Thomas (@simonrug) December 11, 2021
Magnificent from a club decimated by COVID. @Cardiff_Rugby’s academy kids and Welsh League part-timers better, braver, more daring than anyone had a right to expect: flat out from start to finish. If only the peerless Antoine Dupont @StadeToulousain had been on the other side…
— Peter Jackson (@JackoRugby) December 11, 2021
Cardiff v Toulouse. Everyone knew the result and the Champions’ Cup holders duly won with Antoine DuPont outstanding but fair play to those Cardiff boys who stood in and stood up. A Covid decimated squad allowed youngsters and non professionals to play and congratulations to them
— Peter Taylor (@peter31063) December 11, 2021
