Originally, Smith was not to make the trip to France.

The Highlanders N.9, Dunedin's franchise, had wanted to stay in the country after the birth of their second child.

But New Zealand coach Ian Foster, faced with Brad Weber's injury against Italy and not convinced by his other scrum backs, preferred to play it safe by recalling his best element at the post.

Since the end of August, however, Smith has only played two matches in the New Zealand provincial championship, with Manawatu.

Too bad for TJ Perenara, removed from the list despite his 77 capes.

This shows the importance that retains, soon to be 33 years old (he will celebrate them on Sunday), the most capped of the New Zealand N.9, selected 101 times since his international debut in 2012 and crowned world champion in 2015. A world champion (2015) who had full of praise for his French counterpart Dupont at the start of the year.

"This guy is on another level. No one can compete right now. He makes a difference in club and with the national team. He helps me watch my game and try to improve," Smith tweeted in February 2021. .

All black opener Aaron Smith scores a spectacular try in the Test match against Australia in Auckland, August 17, 2019 Greg Bowker AFP / Archives

Dupont had just achieved a high-flying performance at the opening of the Six Nations Tournament in Rome against Italy (50-10), with one try and four assists.

Dupont "best defender"

Since then, the neo-captain of the XV of France, 25 years old (34 selections), has achieved the double European Cup - Championship with the Toulouse Stadium, confirming his exceptional qualities at the highest level.

Who of Smith or Dupont is better?

"It's a delicate question," replied Bordeaux-Bègles coach Christophe Urios.

The 55-year-old technician, who led Dupont in his professional debut at Castres, finds the French "better defender" than his New Zealand rival.

FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

"He is incredible + Toto + Dupont today, both in attack and defense. Moreover, it is in defense that he surprises me the most. In attack, we knew he had this quality. defense, we knew he was a fighter but there today ... Pfiou! ", he argues with AFP.

"One (Dupont) seems to me to be very dangerous for the opponent by his own game. The other (Smith) is dangerous because he adds fuel to the collective, to speed", summarizes Urios.

Smith, "genius" of the pass

For Charlie Faumuina, New Zealand international law pillar of the Toulouse Stadium, Smith "is not as physical as Antoine, he defies less defenses" but he has an "unparalleled quality of pass".

"His genius is that under any conditions, he will give you the same perfect pass. Either way, it will be fast, long and tense. And that is extremely rare among scrum backs. , whose quality of pass generally depends a lot on the quality of the ruck ", detailed the pillar to the 50 selections with the Blacks, in the columns of Midi Olympique.

Aaron Smith during the All Blacks' success against the Australian Wallabies in Auckland, August 14, 2021 MICHAEL BRADLEY AFP / Archives

Dupont, he, "can do you a feat with nothing at all. He is really powerful but he feigns you, he takes the hole, will challenge a defender and serve you after contact. All that, in a few seconds", completes Faumuina.

Jean-Claude Skrela, coach of the XV of France from 1995 to 1999, estimates him, with AFP, that "the pass of Dupont is as fast as that of Smith".

If the French "carries the ball less" than the New Zealander, he is on the other hand "more powerful".

"It will be a very good duel," Skrela promises.

© 2021 AFP