It was naive and ignorant to doubt Antoine Dupont on Saturday evening.
As Spanish football giants Real Madrid battle German giants Borussia Dortmund for UEFA Champions League glory at Wembley, Dupont delivered an all-time special SVNS Series moment at the home of Real’s crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid.
For a moment it looked as if Dupont had made an uncharacteristically poor decision against England. The Frenchman picked up the ball on his own 22-metre line and decided to go down the short side where rugby sevens veteran Robbie Fergusson met him.
France needed to win that match to keep their hopes of winning the SVNS series overall alive, and with the team trailing by seven points at that stage, this seemed like the wrong decision.
“I can’t believe Antoine Dupont” 🤯
The world’s best rugby player has done it again.#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSMAD pic.twitter.com/7Xo0Eh0fqR
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) June 1, 2024
Ferguson nosed the former World Rugby 15 Player of the Year to the sideline and appeared to corner him. Nevertheless, Dupont backed himself by fiercely colliding with a defender before running away for the decisive score.
Fans at Madrid’s Civitas Metropolitano sat in awe, bewilderment and almost disbelief. Dupont helped Toulouse win the Champions Cup final against Irish heavyweight Leinster less than seven days ago and is now on his way. that SVNS series.
France won the overall series title for the first time in their history. Dupont was named to the Official Dream Team for the third time in as many events this season and also earned SVNS Men’s Rookie of the Year honors.
It’s something other people can’t even dream of.
Fans have been debating for the past week whether Dupont is the greatest player of all time (GOAT) in rugby union. It’s a tall claim, but not by any means unusual, considering other legends who have graced the sport.
Is Antoine Dupont already the greatest player of all time?
— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) February 4, 2024
‘I think he’s the greatest player in the game.’@bernardjackman The highest praise has been paid to Toulouse’s Antoine Dupont in today’s new podcast.
Get the entire pod ➡️ https://t.co/43Hwy10st9 pic.twitter.com/EVtT8fsus5
— The42.ie (@The42_ie) May 27, 2024
Dupont, 27, has led Toulouse to glory, winning Player of the Finals, European Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards in the SVNS Series and is the reigning Rugby Sevens World Champion.
Even considering the likes of Dan Carter, Brain O’Driscoll, Richie McCaw, Jonny Wilkinson and the late Jonah Lomu, Dupont is a different gravy.
However, there is one player who is barely even mentioned in this discussion.
It’s almost a crime that New Zealand’s dual-code rugby sevens and fifteens player Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is constantly forgotten or overlooked.
Yes, Woodman-Wickliffe is almost unanimously regarded as the greatest figure in women’s rugby history, but her legend goes far beyond gender and the social restrictions that some continue to place on women’s rugby.
Saturday – Yes. On the same day as Dupont’s masterclass against GB – Woodman-Wickliffe was seen signing autographs and taking selfies for around 15 minutes. There were literally queues of Spanish fans waiting patiently to meet their rugby hero.
This is a global superstar.
There’s literally a line of fans waiting to get their picture taken with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.
Portia has been taking pictures for at least 10 minutes now. International superstar. @RugbyPass @SVNSSeries @nz_sevens pic.twitter.com/dIRFPLirOj
— Finn Morton (@FinnMorton5) June 1, 2024
Later in the tournament, the Black Ferns Sevens veteran beat several Australian defenders to score a try that drew cheers from the Spanish crowd. It was one moment of her physical prowess, skill and determination that pretty much summed up her career.
Woodman-Wickliffe is a pioneer in women’s soccer. She may have a cool demeanor on the pitch, but once the full-time whistle blows she gives endless hours to supporters and media alike, and it’s not hard to understand why the number 11 is so revered.
Earlier this year, the tryscore phenomenon targeted her 50th birthday.Day International Sevens tournament in Los Angeles. The exclusive club also includes Australian duo Charlotte Caslick and Sharni Smale, who also achieved milestones this season.
The 32-year-old has broken records for fun throughout her stellar career, but she remains humble. The New Zealander, who wears her black jersey with pride, recently became the first female player to score 250 tries in rugby sevens.
Since making her Black Ferns Sevens debut in 2012, Woodman-Wickliffe has helped New Zealand win multiple world titles in the SVNS Series and Commonwealth, Olympic and Rugby Sevens World Cup gold medals.
The legendary winger was named Sevens Player of the Year in 2015 and later named Player of the Decade. Read it again.
But that’s not all.
The 15s played a key role in New Zealand winning back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2017 and 2021 on home soil. World Rugby also awarded the player the esteemed honor of being named the world’s best player in 2017.
Woodman-Wickliffe holds the record for most tries scored by a woman or man at a Rugby World Cup. Bryan Habana, co-leader of the men’s team with 15 attempts, rightly pointed this out before the sport’s flagship event in France last year.
The Kiwi’s ability to succeed at both 15s and 7s is surprisingly underestimated.
Add in what Woodman-Wickliffe has done to grow the women’s game, and it looks like they’ve won this top race.
Influence, profile, and capabilities should all be included in this discussion.
It’s great. That’s what it means to be a goat.
It’s time for Portia Woodman-Wickliffe to get the respect she deserves for her outstanding career.
But there is something special about Antoine Dupont, and that should also be mentioned.
Dupont will likely join Woodman-Wickliffe at the top tier of the GOAT discussion, but some trophies still need to be won. Dupont must lead France to back-to-back World Cup wins and Olympic gold in Paris next month.
Only then will Dupont equal Woodman-Wickliffe’s achievements.
“To be honest, I was a little worried before the first competition, so I worked hard to prepare,” Dupont said in an interview on Sunday. “But the team atmosphere was so good that it was easy to join.” Switch to Seven.
He added, “I hope this competition will be a big competition for us.” “Obviously we want to win, but we’re not the only team, so we’ve got two months to prepare and give it our all so we can lift the trophy in July.”
The current French rugby icon is one of the greats, but not yet the best.
Antoine Dupont may be a very talented player, but at this stage the Frenchman is still chasing the greatness that Portia Woodman-Wickliffe possesses, and it is time for rugby fans to recognize that.
Relive all the action of SVNS Madrid for free Rugby Pass TV. To watch the Grand Final on-demand, register here.
