It’s Youngs v Duponte who will win Le Crunch?
TIGER STAR TAKING ON ‘BEST SCRUM-HALF IN THE WORLD’
BEN Youngs believes he will be facing the player who is redefining the role of a scrum-half when England and France collide in the Guinness Six Nations at Twickenham, writes Duncan Bech of PA Sport.
Leicester Tigers star Youngs will duel with Antoine Dupont for the second time on Saturday and has deep admiration for the dynamic 24-year-old whose expertise in attack and defence would ensure he is among the first names on a world XV team sheet. Dupont, the 2020 player of the Six Nations, is the heartbeat of a resurgent France side and Youngs insists his unparalleled skill-set sets him apart from his rivals.
“I am hugely impressed with Dupont. He’s really flying the flag for scrumhalves. He’s the best scrum-half in the world and he’s probably one of the best players in the world,” Youngs said.
“You look at Will Genia when he first burst onto the scene – he changed the way that nines play the game.
“Fast-forward 10 years and Antoine Dupont has come along and I think he will do the same. He’ll change the way nines play.
“He’s unique. He’s such a powerful guy. He’s a very compact bloke. He’s an extremely instinctive player and once the French pack gets rumbling he’s extremely explosive around the ruck area.
“He’s happy to take guys on and get through those bits of contact. His game management is very, very strong as well. He’s got the best of both worlds really.
“I don’t know where he’s going to end up. In another seven or eight years he’s going to be incredible.
“I can’t compliment him enough. I can recognise talent when I see it, I can recognise a serious player in my position when I see it, and I believe he’s the best scrum-half in the world.
“If someone like that doesn’t bring out the best in you when you get the opportunity to play against them then…”
British Lions and Leicester veteran Youngs is preparing to win his 108th cap in the fixture against the Six Nations favourites dubbed “Le Crunch”.