Dupont wary of NZ 'threat'

SPOTLIGHT: France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont said he was cautious of New Zealand’s ‘threat’ before the in-form All Blacks head to Paris this coming Saturday.

New Zealand had the perfect dress-rehearsal ahead of their return to the Stade France, where they lost the 2023 World Cup Final by a point to South Africa, by defeating Ireland on Friday for a first win in Dublin since 2016.

Six days prior to the Ireland victory, they also snuck past England at Twickenham.

The hosts opened their November internationals campaign with a convincing 52-12 win over Japan as scrumhalf Dupont made his return to the Test arena following his gold medal heroics at the Paris Olympics.

“We all love seeing the All Blacks playing like that as rugby fans,” Dupont told reporters.

“Their physicality across the team was remarkable over the past two weekends, more so than their individualities.

“I think they’ll come with that same mentality next weekend.

“It’s up to us to raise our level to respond to the threat that’s coming,” he added.

Dupont, who celebrates his 28th birthday this coming Friday, had last featured for the France 15-a-side outfit during last October’s World Cup quarterfinal defeat to the Springboks.

The 2021 World Rugby player of the year’s return against a lacklustre Japan looked like he’d never been away.

The No.9 provided to try-assists and showed his class with a pair of delicate behind the back passes.

“He found things hard, I gave him a bit of advice,” hooker Peato Mauvaka jokingly told reporters.

“He does a lot of good on the team with his leadership and gives us some go forward.

“We’re happy to have him back with us,” Dupont’s club and Test teammate added.

Prior to heading to the northern hemisphere for their season-ending tour, the All Blacks alongside head coach Scott Robertson had been under pressure.

They finished second in the Rugby Championship behind a dominant South Africa.

The wins over Japan, England and Ireland have silenced their doubters, with loose forward Wallace Sititi, No.8 Ardie Savea and fullback Will Jordan being standout players.

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“They seem to be in a very good place,” France head coach Fabien Galthie said.

“They followed up a win over Japan, with a win over England and a trip to Ireland, a clean win, without any blunders.

“The All Blacks are at the summit of their game.

“It’s in their continuity and evolution,” he added.

Despite New Zealand’s upturn in results, they haven’t beaten France since 2018.

The losses includes a defeat in the opening match of the 2023 World Cup and conceding 40 points in Paris back in 2021.

The last time the All Blacks lost three games on the bounce to France was back in the mid-1990s.

“I’ve always thought New Zealand as being monstrous,” Mauvaka said.

“We had the fortune of beating them twice.

“The match they had on Friday was big in terms of physicality.

“We really want to respond to that next week,” he added.