France 7 doit-elle sa victoire uniquement à Antoine Dupont ?
Par Jean-Baptiste Gobelet
La France remporte 19 ans après le titre de 2005 à Paris (coachée par Thierry Janescek à l’époque), un titre majeur sur le HSBS SVNS Series 2024 à Los Angeles. Après six finales perdues, la France soulève enfin son deuxième trophée.
Dire que France 7 doit sa victoire uniquement à Antoine Dupont serait réduire le travail du groupe France depuis de nombreuses années.
Les joueurs de Jérôme Daret ont réussi un tournoi XXL en termes de jeu avec notamment les performances remarquées de Timo, Sepho et Zeghdar omniprésents sur les zones de contact.
Les étoiles de Hollywood boulevard étaient alignées pour que la France performe sur cette édition du Los Angeles Sevens, les nations favorites (Argentine & Fidji) se faisant surprendre en quart de finale ont permis un « final four » 100% européen inédit (Espagne, Irlande, Grande-Bretagne et France).
Défense & offloads : les ingrédients du succès français
L’équipe de France a notamment construit sa victoire par une défense de fer, avec un rideau unique à 7 défenseurs et très dense, ce qui leur permet de mettre une pression forte sur les contre-rucks adverses.
Offensivement, les Français ont brillé par leur jeu de passes après contacts. L’équipe de France est celle qui a fait le plus de offloads sur le LA7s.
Depuis quelques saisons, l’équipe de France de Jérôme Daret s’est orientée sur un jeu debout plutôt qu’un jeu au sol. Avec les Fidji, elle fait partie des équipes les plus joueuses qui sont à moins d’un ruck par essai en moyenne.
Avec les gabarits athlétiques du Sevens français, l’équipe de France possède un des plus beaux effectifs du circuit mondial, des joueurs rapides et très physiques, idéal pour ce type de rugby.
L’arrivée du meilleur joueur du monde automatiquement procure un plus dans un effectif déjà talentueux. Antoine Dupont a eu une influence considérable dans cette quête d’un nouveau trophée tricolore. L’absence de choc thermique sur le continent nord-américain (hiver comme en France) n’a pas altéré le physique du meilleur joueur du monde.
Réussir la passerelle du rugby à XV au rugby à 7 au cours une saison n’est pas donné à tout le monde même pour des stars du rugby mondial. Beaucoup ont essayé et se sont passés à travers tel que Sonny Bill Williams ou Bryan Habana.
Antoine Dupont en revanche a parfaitement réussi son intronisation dans le SVNS Series avec des performances majuscules qui lui vaut d’être dans la Dream Team du LA7s.
Dupont : Impact mental player
Depuis l’annonce de son arrivée sur les étapes nord-américaines, Antoine Dupont est au cœur de toutes les discussions. Sur la caravane du World Series, la présence d’un joueur de ce calibre impacte automatiquement les équipes adverses.
Certains joueurs ont été déstabilisés mentalement, cela s’est vu dans le jeu avec des fautes techniques anormales de plusieurs joueurs ou des erreurs de connexions défensives. Tandis que côté français, cela a produit l’effet inverse.
La dimension mentale est une dimension encore plus importante dans le Sevens avec des matchs couperets à jouer à chaque tournoi.
On a l’impression que toute la pression autour de l’équipe de France a été absorbée par l’arrivée d’Antoine Dupont, on a vu des joueurs français plus imperméables à la pression et surtout beaucoup plus sûrs dans leurs choix de jeu.
L’impact mental de Dupont s’est fait ressentir sur le jour 2. Le moment clef du tournoi se joue lors du quart de finale face aux USA, sur la période d’infériorité numérique à 6 contre 7 avec le carton rouge. La France gère la possession de ballon et fait tourner le chrono.
Toutes les équipes en infériorité numérique lors des quarts ont craqué (Argentine, Fidji). La France, elle, non et va même se faire le luxe de conserver la balle sur toute la seconde mi-temps privant les USA de toutes munitions.
Les commentateurs vont résumer parfaitement la situation au micro de World Rugby : lorsque Antoine Dupont est sur le terrain, la France n’est jamais en infériorité.
Cela résume l’impact mental qu’amène Antoine Dupont sur l’équipe de France, une sérénité collective hors du commun dans les moments faibles.
Le chiffre : 25 Ball Carrier & 6 offloads
Antoine Dupont est le joueur français qui a porté le plus le ballon. Le Français a porté le danger sans cesse durant le LA7s notamment au milieu du terrain, obnubilant deux défenseurs à chaque fois.
Il a fortement gêné les connexions défensives adverses avec ses courses en travers. Les équipes ont dû changer leurs repères défensifs. Nous avons vu des marquages très serrés à deux, voire trois joueurs sur Dupont, ce qui a permis d’ouvrir beaucoup d’espaces autour de lui et de marquer des essais (Sepho contre les Fidji).
Antoine Dupont est monté en puissance sur le second tournoi nord-américain, il a été décisif sur neuf essais sur les 18 au total, dont trois essais spectaculaires en solo sur des moment clefs. Le meilleur joueur du monde à XV a déjà conquis le monde du Sevens.
Comments on RugbyPass
If he's playing well enough to be in the top 2 or 3 open sides, then pick him. Essentially nothing else should come into it.
1 Go to commentsBe really surprised if Beale is considered for a WB squad, let alone a match day 23. Feel there are too many younger players in all positions in the backline now who should be developed. These upcoming games this year should be used to develop the players of the future, for building towards next RWC.
1 Go to commentsI think this all came from Fozzie immediately anointing Cane as captain when he became coach, well ahead of when any team was to be named. Then he seemingly felt unable to retract the captaincy as that would have been an admission he was wrong initially. Sam Cane was a good AB and a good captain. Through his injuries and some loss of form he maybe didn't deserve selection but Fozzie couldn't ever make that hard call which led to Cane copping it.
3 Go to commentsThe extra weight that Fraser put on over the off season is really showing. The word is 7/8 kgs heavier than last year. Feel he is now carrying into contact a lot more powerfully, which makes him a bigger threat playing in the sh position at lineout time. I do feel however that he is still too easily moved off the ball at the breakdown unless he is in really early. Comparing him to the top current guys such as Tommy Refell, and past supremos like Pocock and McCaw, I would hope he will develop more in that area. The rest of his game is way out front. His speed around the field as a support player is top notch, and his defence is very sound, apart from the front on tackle on the bigger men sometimes. I also would see him as a future WB captain. He does a lot of quiet encouraging, and for sure can lead from the front. Of the other three NZ lads on the stats. table, would think it may be Papalli’i who gets in. I do like Lakai. Is Blackadder not more a 6/8 player ? Actually really rated Lachlan Boshier, but he was not ever getting anywhere, so now in Japan. Would love to have seen how he went in a AB jersey. Excellent article, Nick…….most thought provoking
44 Go to commentsAhh too many OK 7’s out there at the moment, would have loved to have Harmon (and Boshier from Panasonic) included on that list (although I don’t know what I’m looking at with those stats!). I would love to see another 7 come through like Cane (who VdF has molded off), who was a real attacking machine before his neck injury and inability to turn his head/upper body to pass or catch properly forced his style to change. No sure McReight is it, he looks more like a canny McCaw than the blasters Hooper and Cane were. The real issue is what use can Schmidt mold out of his ability and skills in just two short seasons. I think Cale could do a lot of the more skillful stuff. McReight is probably best to knuckle down and do the core duties a modern day Cane performs for the other two loosies (if he’s the best Schmidt has to play with at 7).
44 Go to commentsI’ve little doubt that England is comfortably the No 1 team and not only beat other teams but beat them easily. Not so sure about France. They should be No 2 after winning 3 of last 4 matches against NZ and only a straightforward missed kick prevented it from being 4 out of 4. However, then they inexplicably lost to Canada and Wallaroos in WXV. I thought the NZ match was their “cup final” and they took the others lightly, but they were not particularly impressive in 6N except in flashes. I think they have stood still whilst Canada and England have moved forward but I don't think Canada has the depth and their team is ageing. I agree NZ not moving forward. What will be interesting is how the Wallaroos fare against NZ and then again in their September match against Ireland and then in WXV2 against other 6N teams. I was surprised they lost to USA.
3 Go to commentsI don't know why peoplenare upset here. If foreign fans think they are poor for their clubs and back it up with stats then it's probably true. Snyman would have been a legend in the NH if he was fit though. He just transforms Munster into a winning machine. Pollard is 100% the most disappointing one and his win rate outside world cups gives a good indicator. For all his clubs his average win rate is around 52%, inbetween world cups for the Boks it's 55%. Compared to other elite flyhalves who have 70%+ win rates for their clubs. If anything Manie is a far better investment if you looking for a flyhalf given that when he is on the pitch teams on average win 76% of games.
65 Go to commentsWhich captains were not human?
3 Go to commentsIt left him open to savage sledging most memorably POMs ‘Sh1t McCaw’ comment which prompted a national NZ meltdown. Cane was later substituted in that game. He had some redemption in the RWC quartfinal against Ireland but unfortunately he will be remembered for torpedo-ing his team with that red card in the final with NZ already 12-3 down.
3 Go to commentsThere should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
65 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
44 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
3 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
130 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
65 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
44 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to comments