Dupuy wants to finish on a high
The replacement scrum-half was just a footnote on a day Munster captured all the headlines; one of two unused Biarritz replacements on an unforgettable day in Cardiff , but now his is the name on everyone’s lips ahead of tomorrow’s Heineken Cup showdown.
He spent seven seasons at the Basque club, playing second fiddle to the mercurial Yachvili after breaking into the senior squad, picking up two Top 14 titles (2005 & 2006) in the south-west of France.
A move to the English midlands has not just reinvigorated his career, but has seen him leapfrog Yachvili in the pecking order for Les Bleus. As he admits himself, he arrived as “a virtual unknown”, but has become alongside Tom Croft, the Tigers’ cause célèbre this season and arguably the best all-round scrum half in the European Cup.
Coming into the business end of the season, he has also managed to keep British and Irish Lion, Harry Ellis, off the team, won a Premiership title, is preparing for a European Cup final and, this week, was called into Marc Lievremont’s French squad for ‘Les Bleus’ summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.
“You could say it’s been a perfect year for me,” says the 25-year-old, rated by his coaches at Leicester as the best French scrum-half available to his country. “I arrived at Leicester as a virtual unknown and won a regular place thanks to a lot of hard work.”
However, regrettably for Tigers fans, he is destined to play his last game for Leicester tomorrow. His girlfriend, he admits, is unsettled and a move to Stade Francais is expected to be tied up soon. Ironically, Dupuy’s direct opponent tomorrow, Chris Whitaker, is being linked with the move to Welford Road. “I don’t want to stay at Leicester,” Dupuy admits openly and honestly. “It is not a rugby reason but my girlfriend wants to leave, and, although rugby is very important, it is only about 15 years of your life and the rest is very important to me.”
The goal-kicking scrumhalf has accumulated an impressive tally of 118 points in 30 appearances this season, but no score was more important than his match-winning try against Bath in the Heineken Cup quarter-final. With the game deadlocked at 15-15, just 50 seconds left on the clock, extra time was looming, but then Dupuy picked up a ball from the base of the last ruck of a dramatic game, he moved as is to pass the ball for Sam Vesty for a drop-at-goal, but looked up to find himself in isolation. He then stole through the fringes and rounded Andrew Higgins to score under the posts. It had everything you’d expect from a Frenchman – élan, derring-do and a penchant for risk.
Some may argue that Dupuy’s pre-eminence is down to the strength of the Leicester pack who’ve given him a virtual armchair ride in the last few weeks, a pack he compares to his former colleagues when Biarritz were a force in French rugby.
“When we won both (Top 14) finals, we had a big pack with a back row of Harinordoquy, Dusautoir and Betsen,” he said. “The Leicester pack is similar and one that every scrum-half would like to play behind.
“They play well and it is a pleasure to play with them.”
Despite speculation over his future at Leicester, he’s determined to help his team-mates achieve their third domestic and European double.
“In France, we have a saying that you don’t play in finals, you win finals,” he said. “We have to do it. It has been a long season and my body is tired, but mentally I am good and my head is good. There are two finals to go with the Heineken Cup next weekend and I am sure they will be a pleasure to be involved in.
“I am always looking for the perfect game and I will always try my very best for the team. I have played lots of games this year and that gives you experience and you get to know how your team-mates play.
“I know how Sam Vesty plays and how Jordan Crane plays and you build up a rapport with these people. I wouldn’t have believed that when I signed for Leicester, I would be playing in two big finals in my first year.
“It’s unbelievable and very exciting.”
Just like the way he plays rugby.
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