Six Nations star Dupont targets in-house best defender prize
Antoine Dupont is running out of space in his trophy cabinet – but there is one prize which has so far eluded him.
After leading France to a first Grand Slam in 12 years, Dupont was named Guiness Six Nations player of the championship for the second time, to add to the world player of the year award he picked up last year.
But the biggest individual accolade available for any French player right now is defence coach Shaun Edwards’ prize for the top defender in a match.
In the biggest games, the reward is a bottle of Dom Perignon and, after racking up 15 tackles in the 25-13 win over England – equalling the record for a French scrum-half held by his coach Fabien Galthié 20 years ago – Dupont is hoping he will have done enough to get the nod.
He said: “We’ve not had our debrief yet, so I’ve not been able to get it, but I hope that at our next meet-up, I will. He’s not wanted to give me the award for best defender so far since he’s been with us.”
Edwardsnowhasfourgrand Slams to his name as a coach, having previously won three with Wales, and his impact on this French team has been evident.
Despite largely winning the kicking battle at the Stade de France, England managed just one try and had few chances as they struggled to break down their hosts.
And in a country where dazzling with ball in hand was always prioritised over work off the ball, Dupont is clearly enjoying his work with Edwards.
He said: “Shaun is precise on what he wants and knows exactly what he wants on the pitch. With his experience and his record, everyone listens.
“You could see the very start that he gave the scrum-half a relatively free role, and they would get a lot of interceptions. That is what I used to do a lot but now he has changed his view on it, and I defend a bit wider out, maybe in the style of a centre which gives us an extra three-quarter in the defensive line.”
Still only 25, Dupont has taken over the French captaincy from the injured Charles Ollivon and led France to eight successive victories including putting 40 points on the All Blacks and now a Grand Slam.
They are now favourites with the bookies to lift the World Cup on home soil next year.