Toulouse scrumhalf Antoine Dupont scored a stunning 40-metre try in the Top 14 victory over Bordeaux.
Following their 41-22 loss to Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-finals, Toulouse turned their attention to the Top 14 and faced off against Bordeaux on Sunday.
Antoine Dupont doing Antoine Dupont things
The two sides traded blows in the first half, with Emmanuel Meafou, Alexandre Roumat and Jack Willis all scoring for Toulouse, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Caleb Timu scoring for Bordeaux.
Maxime Lucu added two conversions and a penalty for Bordeaux, while Ramos added the extras on all three tries as Dupont’s side led 21-17.
Dupont produced the match-clinching moment from a lineout in a closely fought second half.
Francois Cros secured the ball at the back of the lineout, with Peato Mauvaka getting the ball back from the flanker and drawing in three defenders before throwing an inside pass to Dupont.
The scrumhalf sped through a gap in the Bordeaux defence and raced into the 22. With two players closing in on him, Dupont sprung towards the line and rounded off the incredible score.
🔥 Antoine Dupont. pic.twitter.com/ExCN9sMDzi
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) May 7, 2023
Ramos added the conversion and a penalty soon after as Toulouse secured the 31-17.
The victory secured a top-two finish in the Top 14 for the regular season with two rounds of the regular season left to play.
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Just one point separates the top-of-the-table Toulouse (75) and second-placed La Rochelle (74).
Stade Francais (64) have a mathematical chance of making the top two provided La Rochelle loses their remaining two fixtures without a losing bonus point.
Finishing in the top two means Toulouse qualify for the semi-finals, bypassing the playoffs.
Reaction
Unsurprisingly, Dupont’s brilliance caught the eye on Twitter.
“That’s ridiculous. Essentially best 6 defenders. By running in a straight line.” tweeted popular Columnist @thepaulwilliams.
“Is there a player who will have a longer YouTube highlights video than Antoine Dupont?” @ThalaMsutu77 queried.
“That’s a really nice move, and then Dupont just does Dupont things. Absolutely ridiculous you can use a scrum half as a weapon like this,” added @BenjaminSuttonn
@khumalomphe1 added: “When will we stop pretending that the things this guy does are normal? He’s unreal”
“Antoine Dupont is such a menace”, tweeted @SaffasRugby with further angles of the score.
Antoine Dupont is such a menace 🔥#STUBB | #TOP14 pic.twitter.com/pqd6TXzGea
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) May 8, 2023
“We are witnessing greatness. He’s playing a different sport. Incredible to see a player a class above at every level he plays.” added @RonnyBouch