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Ronan O'Gara: The sorcerer and his apprentice adorn a special Paris match

As if the greatest show this autumn needed another sprinkle of spice, pitting the wizard in the playmaker role against his would-be successor as the game’s most creative talent, Sacha Feinberg Mngomezula, has added a dollop of relish on top

France's scrum-half Antoine Dupont. Pic: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/Getty

Thu, 12 Nov, 2026 - 20:21

Ronan O’Gara

AFTER surviving another test of patience against Bayonne last Sunday night in the Top 14, I was asked in the post-match press conference what half back partnership France would go with against world champions South Africa.

Lucu and Dupont was the easy part, but in what order? I thought Maxime Lucu at ten, instead Falbien Galthie has put the number ten shirt on the sorcerer Antoine Dupont. As if the greatest show this autumn needed another sprinkle of spice, pitting the wizard in the playmaker role against his would-be successor as the game’s most creative talent, Sacha Feinberg Mngomezula, has added a dollop of relish on top.

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