Dupont au 7 : « il va me falloir un temps d'adaptation »
L’occasion était trop belle pour ne pas la laisser passer. Alors qu’il reçoit la double distinction de Meilleur Joueur de Top 14 et de Meilleur Joueur International Français lors de la Nuit du Rugby le 20 novembre au soir, Antoine Dupont ne peut éluder les questions qu’on lui pose quant à son prochain engagement avec l’équipe de France de Rugby à 7 pour disputer les Jeux olympiques de Paris 2024.
« Ça fait plusieurs mois qu’on essaie, avec le club, la fédé et France 7, de pouvoir me donner l’opportunité et les moyens de tenter de participer à ces jeux olympiques. J’espère maintenant être performant et postuler », explique-t-il alors.
« Il va falloir trouver des ajustements. Je ne vais pas pouvoir jouer tous les matchs, tous les week-ends, jusqu’à la fin de la saison. Il va falloir faire des sacrifices pour passer du temps avec cette équipe et me faire à ce jeu et à cette discipline à part… J’ai encore des ambitions à XV. Je n’ai pas envie de prendre ma retraite sportive tout de suite, ne vous inquiétez pas. »
Une transition pas si évidente
La transition de passer du XV au 7 ne sera pas facile et même lui, meilleur joueur du monde en 2021, s’interroge. « Quand je vois les efforts que demande cette discipline, il va me falloir un temps d’adaptation, c’est certain », admet-il.
Son entraîneur au Stade toulousain, Ugo Mola, ne semble pas particulièrement inquiet. « Il semblerait que s’il joue avec les qualités qui sont les siennes, il pourrait être une valeur ajoutée pour cette compétition », indique-t-il.
« On a tous envie qu’Antoine Dupont gagne des trophées, la Coupe du monde lui est passée sous le nez. Il faut espérer qu’il en gagne quelques-uns avec son club et qu’il en gagne pourquoi pas avec l’équipe de France à 7. »
Une formidable vitrine
« Antoine a une attitude très rugby, il ne veut pas être parachuté. Il sait que, dans une équipe de rugby, on gagne sa place », abonde de son côté Florian Grill, président de la Fédération Française de Rugby.
« S’il fait les Jeux, et il a dit qu’il voulait les faire, c’est une superbe tête de gondole même s’il faudra se priver de lui sur le Tournoi des Six Nations. Mais, franchement, quelle belle image pour le rugby à VII et pour le pays ! Ce sera un porte-drapeau important. »
Cet enjeu semble le plus important dans ce projet d’une vie. « Pour tout fan de sport, les JO, ça reste mythique. Recevoir cet évènement en France sera une fête incroyable et pouvoir prétendre à une médaille olympique est un challenge hypermotivant », assure Antoine Dupont.
Néanmoins, même s’il devrait bénéficier d’un aménagement de son emploi du temps avec son club pour lui permettre de postuler pour les JO, Antoine Dupont promet de revenir pour les phases finales du Top 14 avec le Stade Toulousain.
« Oui, je ferai les phases finales avec le Stade toulousain », confirme-t-il. « Et j’espère pouvoir à nouveau soulever ce Bouclier de Brennus. Je peux passer du temps avec le 7 mais aussi garder mes objectifs avec le Stade toulousain. »
Comments on RugbyPass
Hiding coming up for Saders.
1 Go to commentsDagg really does go down some rabbit holes doesnt he? In the name I guess.
6 Go to commentsHey Brett I’m one who is looking forward to seeing JS back on the rugby field. I was under the impression that a large portion of his contract was via a third party so RA isn’t having to foot the bill My big concern is around the Tahs and what is happening there, why are so many players bailing. Is it the program, the coaches or the culture. Joe Schmidt recently said he had been at the Tahs all week and DC is a good coach. Something doesn’t gel , 10 front row forwards in a season that’s not bad luck
13 Go to commentsIncorrect title. He hasn’t said Furlong is one of the best scrummagers. He said he is one of the best props.
1 Go to comments“_It seems like a crazy thing that he was counting them_“ Are you stupid, mate? Anyone with more than half a brain understands that he meant “a lot” or something similar. Do you really think he was counting? “*Goode*: Told you, Jim!“ No, you banana. You said, explicitly, that the Irish players didn’t say what EE said they did. Even though you weren’t there. Even though you didn’t hear a word they said. M0r0n.
107 Go to commentsI am sure that Scott Robertson did do the courtesy of telling Sam Cane that he was not in his All Black plans and NZR would support him if he wished to sign a lucrative pension playing out his career in the cream puff rugby that is Japan’s Top League. I fail to see this as a negative as Israel Dagg is trying to spin it. Razor allowed Cane to leave with dignity rather than being unceremoniously dumped as was Buck Shelford.
6 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsHey rugbypass can I also get involved with writing rugby articles?
1 Go to commentsAT THE END OF THE DAY THE TEAM WITH 4 WORLD CUPS WILL ALWAYS GET TO TELL THE OTHER NATION TO SUCK MY BALLS. THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC AND IRREFUTABLE FACT.
107 Go to commentsWish him and his family the best in his retirement from International rugby and into the future.
1 Go to commentsSelf proclaimed expert/pundit Andy Goode and his very personal views on referees…Why recalling them in such an article as if he were an undisputed authority on the subject ? Only because fellow writer ?
1 Go to commentsLate growth spurts are a common problem over here. I’m well over 30, and I just started having a growth spurt too. Could be a world class prop soon.
1 Go to commentsas much as the challenge cup is a bit of a nothing competition, winning it would still mean something. last year it was won by toulon, who are now something like 4th in the top 14? The year before it was won by Lyon a season before they finished 3rd in the league. The year before that the final was contested by Montpellier and Leicester - 12 months before they both became domestic champions. That should give Gloucester fans some hope.
1 Go to commentsgreat article - although I can’t help wonder whether the more relevant debate over coming years will be between Ford and Fin Smith!
12 Go to commentsMaking Scott Barrett captain might be a masterstroke….will calm him down & stop brain fades and also take pressure off Ardie, so he can just play his natural monster game. Lets see how that all pans out🧐
8 Go to commentsI’m surprised Scotland are planning to rest key players this summer - I don’t think any other tier 1 nation will be doing the same?
3 Go to commentsGreat analysis Brett and what a shame that RA haven't spent more on the tight five instead. BTW I see the latest 8-9 Combo has dropped, looking forward to that. It's incredible the amount of damage that Hamish and Eddie's egos did in such a short space of time. From memory Eddie drove the initial drive to poach league stars way back in the 00s, with community rugby paying the price in reduced funding. Australia went from 15% of its income being spent on community rugby in 2002 to 2.4% in 2015, sheer madness and look where they are now. Hamish reminds me of Scrappy Doo. Always mouthing off, spoiling for a fight with bigger dogs who'd eat him alive. Sadly RA didn't have a Scooby Doo to bail him out.
13 Go to comments*_“I love watching bone-shuddering tackles, brutal clear-outs, monster ball carries, and crushingly intense scrummaging. I love it. These things make my heart rate spike. These aren’t the only things I love about rugby, but I feel no need to pretend I don’t love them, or to apologise for loving them just in case someone thinks I shouldn’t.”_* beautifully put Flats🔥
3 Go to comments“Hidden comments” all over the place😂 Turlough’s been a busy little boy ey🤭
107 Go to commentsit’ll all be released in an autobiography a few years from now….. “Razor shafted me” blah blah blah. thinking of making Scott Barrett captain might be a good move. Could calm down his brain fades & make him an even better player for them
6 Go to comments