JEREMY GUSCOTT

I EXPECT Antoine Dupont’s world-class credentials to last in much the same way as they did for Dan Carter and Richie McCaw now that he has been announced as World Rugby’s 2021 Player of the Year. Asking if the French scrum-half can be contained prompts a comparison with Lionel Messi when he was in his pomp at Barcelona.
Every opposing side knew beforehand that he was the best player on the pitch, but even then their multiple man-marking couldn’t stop him scoring 40 or 50 goals a season.
Dupont is one of the few players in rugby who has that same magic, and like Carter a...