Antoine Dupont certainly seems to be settling into the Rugby Sevens game very well.
In his tournament debut on the World Series in Vancouver this weekend the 27-year-old played an instrumental role as his side dumped Ireland out of the competition at the quarter-final stage on Saturday night.
The former World Rugby 15s Player of the Year came off the bench in the opening two games of the competition before starting and scoring his first try against Australia in France's final pool game.
Ireland's weekend hadn't exactly gone to plan before they faced the French as they lost narrowly against Great Britain and New Zealand in their opening pool games. James Topping's side did however manage to beat South Africa 22-10 to advance to face France in the last eight.
Dupont came off the bench against the Irish with game hanging in the balance but it didn't take long for him to make his impression.
Antoine Dupont scores last-gasp try against Ireland in Sevens encounter
With time up on the clock and the game level and hanging in the balance Dupont scored a clever try easing past the Irish players who were hopeless in their efforts to stop him. It secured France a 12-5 victory.
A very happy @Dupont9A with the winning try✌️🇫🇷#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSVAN https://t.co/Do60JNrteM pic.twitter.com/cblmq3QAnP
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) February 25, 2024
Dupont's decision to move to the Seven's game is fuelled by the Olympic Games which take place in Paris this summer. He will be hoping to guide his country to a historic medal on home soil.
He is clearly content with the move he is made despite having been apprehensive about it initially.
"You just have to watch the guys on the pitch to understand why I was scared," he said after the quarter-final.
"There are very fast guys and they've known this game for a long time. I'm new on the series so I have to learn but I have to do my best from the first game until the last."
"You just have to watch the guys on the pitch to understand why I was scared!"@Dupont9A is growing in confidence at #HSBCSVNSVAN #HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/LqYCWJoAD3
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) February 25, 2024
France now play New Zealand in the semi-finals while Ireland head to the fifth place play-off where they will meet Fiji.
Dupont will be hoping that his first Seven's tournament is ultimately a winning one.
SEE ALSO: Tadhg Furlong Full Of Emotion In First Aviva Game Since Father's Passing
