A bundle of energy - the best around

Simon Thomas talks to Sir Gareth Edwards, rated by many as the greatest rugby player of all time, about the brilliance of Antoine Dupont

- Simon Thomas

SO, IS Antoine Dupont the greatest rugby player of all time? Well, who better to ask than the man who has repeatedly been lauded with that title-Sir Gareth Edwards.

Dupont's latest heroics - inspiring France to Olympics Sevens gold has seen some hail him as not just the best in the world right now, but the best there has ever been.

Wales and Lions legend Edwards who, of course, performed in the same scrumhalf position is a huge admirer of the three-times Player of the Six Nations and 2021 World Player of the year.

"Over the last three or four years, I have been invited out to Paris to make various presentations to Antoine and I have enormous respect for what he has achieved," Edwards told The Rugby Paper. "You have got some great players around the world and we are fortunate enough to be able to switch channels and see them all in an afternoon.

"But he is the one that really has a buzz about him.

"I think the game has gone a bit stale in some respects, especially around the back of ruck and scrum where it's wait, wait, wait, pick the ball up, hoof it in the air and everyone chases it. But he is different to that.

"You don't know where he is going to pop up next or what he is going to do. He is not predictable and that's what I like about him.

"You have got to beware when he is around and constantly keep an eye on him. He gets into attacking positions where you least expect him.