Head-to-head: Battle of the bantams
OPINION: Ask any coach, and you will get the usual tropes. ‘It all starts up front’ and ‘there are 14 other players on the field’.
However, undeniably, Antoine Dupont and Morné van den Berg will be two key figures in the Paris face-off between France and South Africa.
Yes, Dupont has been named to start at flyhalf, but they remain two key figures at the Stade de France on Friday.
Although they are the same age (29), they are very different players internationally.
Dupont is a world-class veteran with 65 caps for Les Bleus, while Van den Berg is a late bloomer for the Springboks with only 12 caps to his name but an incredible try-scoring rate.
Dupont may have more experience and overall playmaking ability, but Van den Berg has an incredible try-scoring rate.
He has scored eight tries in 12 tests (one try every 1.5 games). He has also scored five tries in a row for the Springboks in late 2025 and early 2026.
Van den Berg ranks fifth among the Boks’ highest try-scoring rates (66.7 percent), behind Danie Gerber (79.2 percent), who scored 19 tries in 24 Tests; Kurt-Lee Arendse (75.0 percent), who scored 27 and 36 tries; Makazole Mapimpi (70.2 percent), who scored 33 and 47 tries; and Ray Mordt (66.7 percent), who scored 12 and 18 tries.
Antoine Dupont has a try-scoring rate of 0.26 tries per Test (26.15 percent) and has scored 17 tries in 65 Tests.
Dupont did not score any tries in his first 13 Tests since making his debut in 2017. However, he scored his first international try against Italy during the 2019 Six Nations. Since then, he has scored 17 tries. (0.33 percent try-scoring rate).
Krappies (Van den Berg’s nickname) has a 91.7 percent winning rate in Tests (11 wins and one loss), compared to Dupont’s 72 percent winning rate in 65 Tests for France.
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Fabien Galthié, France’s coach, sees Dupont as the clear leader and role model for the French national team but often says they are not a one-man band.
During Dupont’s absence at the 2024 Olympics and knee rehabilitation in 2025, Galthié made it clear the team need to adapt and play well without Dupont.
He used this opportunity to develop leaders in players such as Maxime Lucu and Grégory Alldritt.
Rassie Erasmus sees Van den Berg as a ‘relentless, selfless’ player who is the perfect fit to open up South Africa’s exciting backline.
Although he does not see him as a flashy superstar, he often compliments his workrate, quick ruck work and fighting spirit.
“My favourite thing about Morné is that he brings competition to everything. Whether it’s tackling, tackle fights, passing or running to the breakdown.”
Let’s look at the two players!
Antoine Dupont
Dupont has incredible strength, like a forward, but also has quick acceleration and speed like a back.
He has incredible vision and quick decision-making around the ruck. He is also excellent at finding tiny gaps.
Dupont is also excellent at kicking with both feet, passing with sympathy, making crucial tackles and jackaling.
As France’s top four flyhalves are injured, Dupont will have more responsibility to play a key role in the team. Whether he plays with a converted centre (Kalvin Gourgues) or another scrumhalf (Maxime Lucu), Dupont will be the main playmaker.
Erasmus has specifically mentioned that Dupont is a big threat due to his instinctive play. Even Dupont’s teammates don’t always know what he will do next.
Morné van den Berg
Van den Berg plays with high intensity, quick ball distribution and sharp running lines from the base of the ruck.
He has also improved his accuracy, precise box kicking and game management with flyhalves such as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Van den Berg became a regular starter for the Springboks in 2026. He has played outstanding games and been man of the match against top opposition.
As he has only recently become a regular starter in Test rugby, he is still improving his consistency and detail in different defensive structures.
Erasmus is relying on Van den Berg’s quick ball at the breakdown. His main role is to provide quick and clean ball to the team’s playmakers, rather than breaking the edges.
His new halfback partnership with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu relies heavily on his accuracy. After his Player of the Match performance against Italy, Van den Berg will be relied on to kick accurately to win the aerial battle and keep France in their own half.
Playing against Dupont in a hostile Stade de France cauldron will require Van den Berg to work hard at the breakdown. His high intensity and defensive work rate will be tested to keep Dupont from having time and space at the breakdown.
