Antoine Dupont is already spoken about as one of the greatest scrum-halves rugby has ever produced, a player who has redefined what the position can be at the highest level.
Yet when given the chance to name the best No.9 of all time, the France captain showed little interest in putting himself on top.
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In a social media video shared by ITV Rugby on Facebook, Dupont was asked to compare some of the finest scrum-halves from across different eras. The first name read out was Aaron Smith, and from that moment on, the New Zealander became the benchmark that everyone else was measured against.
As the comparisons rolled on, Dupont was presented with Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park, a player who has transformed Ireland’s attacking tempo with his speed around the breakdown and sharp decision-making.
Then came Morgan Parra, a long-time leader of French rugby whose calm control and kicking game defined an era for Les Bleus. England’s Ben Youngs followed, a two-time World Cup finalist and his country’s most-capped scrum-half, renowned for his experience and ability to manage matches at Test level.
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Former France scrum-half Fabien Galthié was also thrown into the mix, a figure Dupont knows well as his current head coach, while Fourie du Preez, widely regarded as one of South Africa’s greatest ever players, brought memories of a scrum-half who combined physicality with a devastating rugby brain. Ireland’s Conor Murray and South Africa’s Faf de Klerk were next, both players who, at their peak, dominated international rugby through their control, kicking and relentless competitiveness.
Each time, Dupont leaned towards Smith.
The only moment of real hesitation came when George Gregan’s name was mentioned. The former Wallabies captain, a World Cup winner with 139 caps, set the standard for scrum-halves in the professional era and remains one of the most influential figures the position has ever seen. Dupont paused, clearly aware of the magnitude of the comparison, but still sided with the All Blacks legend.
The final question was the toughest of all. Aaron Smith or Antoine Dupont. Even then, Dupont selected Smith.
Smith’s career more than explains why. Now playing his club rugby in Japan with Toyota Verblitz, he spent the bulk of his career orchestrating the All Blacks with remarkable consistency, alongside Dan Carter in arguably the greatest halfback partnership of all-time.
He won 124 Test caps, making him New Zealand’s second most-capped back, and was a central figure in their 2015 Rugby World Cup triumph. His speed of pass, accuracy and decision-making are often described as the gold standard for scrum-halves, allowing New Zealand to play at a tempo few teams could live with.
At Super Rugby level, Smith starred for the Highlanders and represented Manawatu domestically, while also pulling on the New Zealand Māori jersey in 2010. First selected for the All Blacks in 2012, he remained a fixture in the side for over a decade, finishing his international career on the biggest stage of all in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa.
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