Antoine Dupont is “in the top three” players of all time, according to former Wales star Jamie Roberts.
The 27-year-old is back in the France squad for the Autumn Nations Series, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, having missed the first half of 2024 to focus on the Olympic Games.
But he will make his return to 15-a-side rugby when Fabien Galthie’s side take on Japan on Saturday, November 9.
Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, ex-Scotland flanker John Barclay added that Dupont is simply on another level compared to his peers.
“He’s genuinely playing a different sport,” he said. “It makes me as depressed as I could ever be about my own career!
“I saw what was in front of me. He’s seeing a completely different game. Every team that plays against him [asks] ‘how do we stop him?’ Nobody does. He’s literally got a target on his back!
“His basic skills set and the stuff he does over and above that, every single week, whether it’s Toulouse, it’s France, it’s sevens, it’s remarkable.”
Dupont started his senior career with Castres in 2014, before joining Toulouse three years later.
Since that move, he has won a whole host of honours, including two European Rugby Championships and a quartet of Top 14 titles.
He also helped France lift the Six Nations, with a grand-slam victory in 2022. The only thing missing from his trophy cabinet is a World Cup.
But former England international Danny Care, who shared the field with Dupont in several internationals, says the 27-year-old does not need that on his CV to be considered an all-time great.
“I think some players have a level of excellence for a year, two years, three years,” he said.
“He just seems to keep getting better, and he’s better than everyone else and keeps improving. He’s gone and done Sevens and won an Olympic gold with France.
“He’s come back, won a double with Toulouse, European and domestic title, and you don’t see him having a bad game.
“He doesn’t need to win a World Cup to be in the conversation. I already think he’s doing things that other scrum halves can only dream of. He makes it look so easy.”
Wales legend and TNT Sports pundit Jamie Roberts added: “Talk about longevity in the game, that’s a different part of the conversation.
“But I’ve not seen a player stand head and shoulders above a sea of excellent rugby players like I have done with Antoine Dupont.
“During my time playing the game, and retirement, I’ve not seen a player excel that far head and shoulders above other players at that level in the pro era.
“Whether he’s the greatest player of all time, I think he’s always in that conversation, regardless of a Rugby World Cup, because that’s a team accolade.
“This is an individual accolade. He’s in the top three of all time now, I think, regardless of a World Cup.
“It tells you all about the aura and influence of this guy; influence, how you can impact games. Put him in your team, and you are a couple of hundred % more likely to win that rugby game.”
Stream the 2024 Autumn Nations Series on TNT Sports and discovery+
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