Toulouse Prevails in Durban as Dupont Downplays Revenge Narrative

By Samkelo “Sports Mjita” Gambushe

Antoine Dupont, the captain of both France and Toulouse, dismissed the notion that revenge fueled their 20-8 victory over the Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium.Coming off a heartbreaking 28-29 loss to the Springboks in the 2023 World Cup quarterfinals, Dupont and his team chose to focus on their performance in the Champions Cup rather than dwelling on past disappointments.

The humid conditions in Durban played a significant role in the game, making ball handling a challenge for both teams. Despite these difficulties, Toulouse’s superior territory control—dominating 69%—ultimately secured their win.

The match saw early dominance from Toulouse, with Emmanuel Meafou scoring an early try and Blair Kinghorn adding to the lead. Although the Sharks mounted a strong second-half comeback, highlighted by Jurenzo Julius’ try, Toulouse held firm thanks to their disciplined play and tactical kicks. Antoine Dupont’s leadership was evident throughout the match. Thomas Ramos also made significant contributions with precise box kicks and penalty conversions, ensuring Toulouse remained in control.

Reflecting on the challenging conditions, Dupont said, “I had forgotten how the humidity takes its toll in Durban. It was really tough because of the conditions but also because of the Sharks—they put us under a lot of pressure.” He acknowledged the Sharks’ efforts, adding, “Their bench made a good impact. They had a good kicking game as well, and we made a lot of mistakes in the second half.”Addressing comparisons to their World Cup loss, Dupont noted, “It’s completely different today, even if some players who played against us in France (in the World Cup) were involved, of course. But we know them. We played them in Toulouse as well. And today, it was a different competition.”

The Sharks play a must-win match against Bordeaux Bègles on Saturday, 18 January, if they are to have any chance of reaching the knockout rounds of the Investec Champions Cup.