The Stade Toulousain scrum-half, whose meeting against Ireland was only the third match since December 11, had warned Friday at a press conference: "We (must) not let ourselves be put to sleep because we know with what intentions the Irish come to Paris."

The native of Castelnau-Magnoac (Hautes-Pyrénées) did not give them time: while the Stade de France scoreboard had not yet scored its first minute, the N.9 tricolor had already marked its 11th try in the blue jersey.

After a breakthrough from Uini Atonio, Romain Ntamack took over and transmitted to Dupont who spun in the in-goal, launching a passionate Marseillaise in the stands and a very high intensity match.

And that was just the beginning: the rest of the match demonstrated how much the 25-year-old scrum-half had well and truly recovered his legs and vision of the game.

The surprise test of Mack Hansen, on a dismissal, did not dismantle it.

He launched a combination with his friend from Stade Toulouse, the pillar Cyril Baille who, if it failed, already hinted at the Dupont "before".

Before a bout of fatigue at the end of the year, a knee problem, and a Covid-19 caught in early January which had made him miss the first week of the internship with the Blues in Carpiagne (Bouches-du-Rhône).

The "Minister of the Interior" has returned well: finding his habits with his friend from the hinge Ntamack, with his front pack, sparkling on Saturday, sticking him much more than against Italy, but also with his backs, Gaël Fickou on your mind.

The captain of the XV of France Antoine Dupont in a scrum against Ireland in the Six Nations Tournament in Saint-Denis, February 12, 2022 FRANCK FIFE AFP

Author of raises, small kicks, changes of side, breakthroughs following rucks, Dupont has found his marks, weighing all his weight on the French game, more precise, stronger too, more focused on the conquest (43 passes in total).

One try, one assist

It was he who, on returning from the locker room, was behind the second French try, signed Cyril Baille (27-21, 54th).

We also saw him tackle (seven in total for a success rate of 91%) and even save the store in cover on a poorly negotiated ball in the 22 French meters, recovering it in extremis to start again with the recovery, as at the best days of 2021 when he earned his 'best player in the world' status.

In the 62nd, on a ball scratched by winger Gabin Villière along the sideline, Damian Penaud passes the ball to him, and, as he came to kick for himself along the sideline, the Irish second line Tadgh Beirne stops him.

He falls to the ground on this final blow, without gravity, before leaving the lawn in the 69th.

Then to celebrate the victory with his teammates, undoubtedly reassured on his return to form, as well as with the 80,000 spectators of the Stade de France, during a lap of honor announcing a last match of the tournament, with the reception of the England on March 19, most enticing.

The captain of the XV of France Antoine Dupont on trial against Ireland in Saint-Denis, February 12, 2022 Bertrand GUAY AFP

Asked whether the Covid-19 had had an impact on his state of form, Dupont had replied to the press on Friday, with a smile: "I was asymptomatic, it delayed my recovery but I was able to rest. So, in the end, it was more beneficial than anything else."

© 2022 AFP