All Blacks great Aaron Smith wades into Antoine Dupont GOAT debate

No one in the modern era comes close to DuPont in terms of the influence he has on a game. People who disagree have one thing in common - they have probably have not watched him play that much. There are many many people from NZ with very strong opinions about rugby, who because of the time difference, probably don’t watch any 6 nations other than some highlights, probably only watch the ABs NH games, and definitely don’t watch any Top14 or Heineken Cup.

If you are commenting on how good or not DuPont is ask yourself how many of his games you have actually watched? He has played over 180 games for Castres and Toulouse, and over 50 for France - how many of those games have you ACTUALLY watched?

He can pass like Aaron Smith, has the vision of Carter, can pull off one off moments of magic like prime Beauden or Mo’unga, he is as good as any flanker in the world over the ball, and his ball carrying is in another league to any other 9 that has ever played - as evidenced in his almost impossibly good transition to 7s. Even in that version of the sport where freakish athleticism is table stakes, he still stands out as one of the best.

Other than being from NZ, what more would he have to do to be considered the GOAT?

He is a great player but if he's to reach the sort of GOAT status that others have suggested he needs to prove himself on more than one continent. I’m not sure how he's got to this point and hasn't, but the way he's playing he should go well if given the opportunity?
As an ABs supporter i’d certainly put Lomu and even Christian Cullen in a similar league with their ability to impact a game in both the 15s and 7s. Would've been interesting if the 7s was in the Olympics back then.

What else would one expect from Aaron Smith other than humility and respect by elevating the status of another because dupont deserves the accolade and that process is called “manakitanga”.

Du Pont and Dan Carter can do it all, defence, attack, etc etc etc. But if I put it to the old schoolyard test, choosing teams from the best players ever, and I got the first choice, it would always be Dan Carter, because, as well as being a playmaker per excellence, like Du Pont, he’s also probably the best clutch goal-kicker and drop-kicker of all time.

Dupont hasn’t won a World Cup (he had a great chance last year but France choked), hasn’t beaten South Africa, Australia or New Zealand on their home turf, and hasn’t reached the same level of celebrity and status as Jonah Lomu (non-rugby fans from countries all over the world know who Jonah is, and nobody has reached that level since).

He could be considered the best player of this generation (and he’s competing with Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett and Eben Etzebeth in that regard) but of all time? Even George Gregan, Joost van der Westhuizen and Aaron Smith could be considered superior halfbacks. Maybe he’s the best halfback ever from Europe when you consider those three. There is an element of bias because of recency and he’s European-based where there’s a big media and fan focus on their 6 Nations and club comps.

The GOAT is either Dan Carter or Richie McCaw - who to choose is up to you.

I think the generational best is fair. Same could be said about Jonah Lomu. Neither had the luck to win a RWC final which shouldn’t preclude them. The only argument the naysayers have is to claim these great players are not elibible to be in the conversation due to this technicality. Lomu and DoPont are elibible for greatest in era/generation debate. GOAT always favours the more recent players (unless a Diego Maradona type phenonemom). Is Dupont Rugby’s Maradona?