Jamison Gibson-Park reflects on Antoine Dupont rivalry

style, of keeping the ball alive by any means and relying on individual instinct rather than following a regimented game-plan.

Ireland halfback Jamison Gibson-Park is no stranger to his positional counterpart Antoine Dupont, as the two have spearheaded their respective nations in many bouts on the Test match stage. Looking ahead to etching the next chapter in his personal history with Dupont, Gibson-Park revealed what it takes to prepare to face the man many rugby fans and pundits consider to be the best player in the world today.

“I think we all know the threat he poses." Gibson-Park said at Ireland's training camp in Quinta do Lago, Portugal. "We’d have seen a lot in the last number of years, of him doing stuff that not many others are capable of, so there's that. But there's also the [Ireland] coaches as well, they put a bit of time into him."

Gibson-Park expressed how taking on the world's best scrum halves such as Dupont, brings the best out of him on the pitch. “I'd like to think so, yeah. I've had some pretty good duels with him down the years, certainly at club level. But yeah, he certainly poses a pretty serious threat for sure.”

Following the week's training preparations at their pre-tournament camp, it seems that Ireland are setting out to try and tackle France's element of the unknown. Throughout their decorated history, Les Bleus have garnered a formidable reputation of playing with their 'jouer'

Gibson-Park reiterated how the preparations to take on France are unlike any other side they will face in the Six Nations. When asked how much extra planning goes into an incoming clash with the current tournament title holders, the Leinster halfback replied;

“A whole bunch! It's a bit different to preparing for a lot of other teams. But, he's [Dupont] not the only one. They've got some serious weapons across the whole team. But to your question, quite a lot of prep goes into stopping them.”

Ireland enter this opening round match with the 'underdog' tag. Gibson-Park expressed how it has been a while since Andy Farrell's side have come into a Six Nations clash and not been pinned as favourites. Ireland's mixed bag of results in the Autumn Nations Series has heightened the need for a hot start in the Six Nations, as defeats to the All Blacks and Springboks pillared two victories over Japan and Australia.

“It's probably been a while, I suppose, since we've been in those shoes [as underdogs]. But, it doesn't change a whole bunch for us. We go out and attack the game like we normally do.”

“You could probably argue in November that we were underdone, and there's all sorts of different arguments. But there's no excuses now. It's [the] Six Nations."

The focus is now firmly on the Stade de France, with Gibson-Park chomping at the bit to return to the iconic stadium and face an enigmatic atmosphere of passionate French fans. The scrum half said how there is "no bigger challenge" than taking on France in the City of Light.

“It is quite a privilege [playing at the Stade de France]. We went over there in ‘22 and struggled our way through that game. We weren't at our best; took a lot of learnings from that, went away to Marseille and were a whole lot better that day.

“But I think playing in the Stade de France is a whole different kettle of fish. It's a serious atmosphere, serious noise. So, as you lads would have heard, it's very difficult to get calls and stuff. You have to be very good with eye contact and getting calls that way.

“But it's a pretty wicked privilege. I would argue that probably the biggest challenge in world rugby is going to France and winning. It'll test us massively first up, and we’re looking forward to it.”

“Those are pretty fond memories. It was just unbelievable the way the Irish people rolled in behind us. Like I say, very fond memories, but this one will be probably a little bit different."

Gibson-Park has been named to start at scrum half for the opening round of the 2026 Six Nations, with his Leinster teammate Sam Prendergast lining up outside him at fly half. Andy Farrell gave Prendergast the nod, with Munster out-half Jack Crowley on the bench, and no space in the inaugural tournament 23 for Leinster's Harry Byrne. Gibson-Park touched on the fierce competition in training, as the trio of 10s jostle to be the first receiver.

“It's great, I suppose. You mentioned the word competition, it's driving them all on. They've all had very good starts to camp and they're great players in their own right so I hope to see them all get a chance throughout this campaign, but whoever rolls up on Thursday will be ready to do a job.”

Gibson-Park starts in the nine jersey ahead of Munster halfback Craig Casey, who continues to push to be Ireland's first choice scrum half. The competition for starting places has only gotten tougher, with Ulster halfback Nathan Doak called into Ireland camp for the first time. Gibson-Park has been impressed by how quickly the 24-year-old got up to the international training standard.

“He's been very good. He's been unbelievable actually, at getting up to speed, and like all the other young guys, it's been very seamless coming into camp. It can be intimidating. It still is for me, coming in every time, but Faz [Andy Farrell] is big on being yourself. So we hope that it's an environment where they can step in and just be themselves. But alongside that, there's a whole bunch of detail they need to get over and they've been very good.”

“I suppose it's getting around individuals to have an idea of what's coming. You might get a bit more of an idea once they select their whole squad but you'd argue that a lot of the French teams play in a similar kind of way. It's more about the individuals and the threat they pose. So yeah, there'll be a bit of work done around that for sure.”