French ace Du a lot of praise, says Youngs

BEN Youngs believes he will be facing the player redefining the role of a scrum-half when England and France collide in the Six Nations at Twickenham.

Youngs will duel with Antoine Dupont for the second time on Saturday and has deep admiration for a 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.

He said: “I am hugely impressed with Dupont. He is really flying the flag for scrum-halves.

“He is the best scrum-half in the world and probably one of the best players in the world.

“You look at Will Genia when he first burst on to the scene - he changed the way nines play the game.

“Fast-forward 10 years and Antoine Dupont has come along and I think he will do the same. He will change the way nines play.

“He is unique, such a powerful guy. He is a very compact bloke.

“He is an extremely instinctive player and once the French pack starts rumbling he is extremely explosive around the ruck area.

“He is happy to take guys on and get through those bits of contact.

“His game management is very, very strong as well. He has the best of both worlds really.

“I don’t know where he is going to end up. In another seven or eight years he is going to be incredible.”

Youngs added: “I can recognise talent when I see it, I can recognise a serious player in my position when I see it, and I believe Dupont is the best scrum-half in the world.

“If someone like that does not bring out the best in you when you have the opportunity to play against them then...”

For all Dupont’s prowess, Youngs will continue to appreciate his own strengths as the Lions and Leicester veteran prepares to win his 108th cap in the round-four fixture against the Six Nations favourites.

He went on: “As a half-back you have to remember a lot of what you do is dictated to you by what happens in front of you.

“If your pack is rumbling and going forward, it is easier to play than if the pack is being punished and being pushed back.

“Dupont is a very different shape to me. I do not have those genetics I have my running game and will do it differently to him.”