England assault coach Richard Wigglesworth has informed Sky Sports activities that France playmaker Antoine Dupont is the ‘Patrick Mahomes of rugby’ forward of Les Bleus visiting Allianz Stadium within the Six Nations.
Dupont, who didn’t play in final 12 months’s Six Nations with the intention to prioritise sevens and Olympic gold on the Paris Video games, was again within the staff for final Friday’s resounding 43-0 success over Wales.
England suffered a 27-22 defeat to Eire in Dublin of their championship opener, falling 27-10 behind after the concession of twenty-two straight factors earlier than a late rally.
Within the week the NFL’s Tremendous Bowl takes place, stay on Sky Sports activities, Dupont has been likened to Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Mahomes, who many already imagine to be among the many biggest American soccer gamers of all time.
“He’s [Dupont] the best. I think that’s been acknowledged by everyone,” Wigglesworth informed Sky Sports activities. “He’s full and robust in each space. I’ve by no means seen a man get out of hassle in addition to he does.
“Somebody thinks they have him or the ball bobbles out the again, it is virtually the place he involves life. That is fairly uncommon. He’s [like Patrick Mahomes]. You assume the play’s lifeless, and it is not. That is an excellent comparability.
“How do you cease him? If coaches had the reply to that, then they’d be incomes some huge cash, would not they? It is a staff effort to cease him, as a result of it is not stopping him, it is stopping what’s occurring round him. Stopping their momentum, velocity of ball, offloads, in order that he has much less time and house.
“Because in small spaces, he’s good. If you give him time and space, then you’re not going to have much of a chance.
“I definitely had many deficiencies [as a scrum-half], however he is fairly full. He kicks off each toes, he is sturdy, he is fast, aggressive, manages the sport nicely. There’s not an space the place you assume: ‘that is the place he lacks.'”
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England captain Maro Itoje stated his aspect endured a troublesome second half as they had been crushed by Eire within the Six Nations however believes there are positives to construct on
France head to London in superb fettle, and look again to their type of 2023. Wigglesworth admits this weekend is among the largest challenges within the sport at current for the hosts.
“It’s right up there. I think they were, along with Ireland, massive favourites for the tournament. The two big ones first. We get a team that’s huge in talent, but in stature as well,” he stated.
“We know how big the forwards are, so what a physical challenge it is for us to go after them, to then try and stop this guy [Dupont] playing nine from in behind, who’s pretty good.
“They’re huge males, however we have our personal guys which are extremely dynamic and athletic. We’ll be assembly that head on.”
France inflicted a record home defeat upon England when the sides last met at this venue two years ago, scoring seven tries on their way to a 53-10 demolition.
“It isn’t been spoken about,” Wigglesworth said ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
“Two years, completely different groups, completely different time. Each Check match is completely different, so we’ll be ensuring that is not repeated.
“We need to win. If we’re going to be challenging the end of it, we need to win.”
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The Occasions’ Martyn Ziegler displays on France’s crushing 43-0 win over Wales within the Six Nations opener, which has heaped stress on Warren Gatland
Since defeating Eire at Twickenham in final 12 months’s Six Nations, England have gone on to lose seven of their subsequent 9, usually surrendering second-half leads.
Wigglesworth admits such a pattern is a priority, however insists it isn’t as a result of health of the squad.
“It’s a concern because we’re starting games well and then not finishing them off.
“It isn’t one factor. We’re not trying on the lads pondering they don’t seem to be match sufficient. They’re in good situation.
“We made basic errors and discipline errors that allowed a really, really good team (Ireland) field position. When you keep repeating those mistakes and giving teams possession in your 22, they’re going to take the chances.
Wigglesworth was adamant England’s health will not be the difficulty behind their run of defeats from positions of second-half leads
“[Fitness is] not the issue. The team can run, they’re in a good spot. We’ve got historical data from Test matches dating back years and years, so we know where they are and what they can do. It’s definitely not the issue. Lots of lessons are being learned between the autumn and then last week.
“We had an extremely troublesome run of video games and we have had extremely shut outcomes that we have not obtained over the road.
“We’d be avoiding if we weren’t looking at the why but there is good stuff in what we’re doing. We are growing. That needs to turn into wins now, we know.”
British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities
Sky Sports activities will completely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia this summer season, with all three Checks in opposition to the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven completely stay. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
