World Rugby Player of the Year Dupont guides Toulouse past Covid-hit Cardiff

France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont celebrated being named World Player of the Year with a try as Toulouse won 39-7 at Cardiff in the European Champions Cup on Saturday.

Less than 24 hours after he was presented with the award, Dupont also set up two tries as the holders started the defence of their record fifth European crown.

The home side fielded a third-string side because 32 players had to isolate after the team returned from South Africa earlier this month.

"We knew they lacked players but we also knew they had a lot of very good players, we prepared seriously," Dupont told Channel 4.

"The result is good, but they were good also," he added.

Cardiff's fellow Welsh region, the Scarlets, decided to forfeit their weekend fixture against the Bristol Bears, after also being caught by Britain's changing quarantine rules.

At the Arms Park, the hosts, including academy members and semi-professional players, trailed 6-0 after quarter of an hour following two Romain Ntamack penalties.

The vocal home crowd were fired up and had reason to cheer on the 20-minute mark as Wales three-quarter Josh Adams went over under the sticks and Cardiff led 7-6.

The tie turned on its head before the break with two clinical Dupont interventions as the half-back's breaks set up Anthony Jelonch and Pita Ahki.

Toulouse were held at 20-7 by the home team's committed defence before Dupont's best contribution.

'Magnificent' Tigers

He broke off the back of a lineout from 30 metres out and beat four would-be tacklers to dive over.

The 25-year-old capped his display with a sublime low cross-kick to gift winger Arthur Bonneval a try that secured the bonus point. Dupont was then replaced with 13 minutes to play.

Cardiff finished with 14-men after 20-year-old fullback Jacob Beetham was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on his senior debut before former Samoa lock Joe Tekori crossed for Toulouse's fifth try with four minutes left.

Elsewhere, England flyhalf George Ford kicked a late penalty as Leicester Tigers edged Bordeaux-Begles 16-13 to keep the English Premiership leaders unbeaten in all competitions this season.

"I'm proud of the players. Their effort was magnificent. They came here and had a real go," Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick told reporters.

"We'll enjoy this and then preparation starts on Tuesday for Connacht," he added, with Leicester hosting the Irish province next Sunday.

Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park scored twice as four-time champions Leinster easily overcame Bath 45-20.

South Africa No 8 Duane Vermeulen played 50 minutes on his Ulster debut in a tense 29-23 victory at Clermont.

Japan's Kotaro Matsushima was one of four players unavailable for the French club after flanker Judicael Cancoriet tested positive for coronavirus. According to tournament rules the unvaccinated Matsushima was unable to feature in their fourth straight European defeat.

The day finishes with 2020 winners Exeter Chiefs hosting Challenge Cup holders Montpellier.

On Sunday, last season's losing finalists La Rochelle welcome Glasgow Warriors and Munster, who have also been hit by Covid-19 isolation, head to fellow two-time champions Wasps.

On Friday, Scotland's Finn Russell starred as Racing 29, runners-up on three occasions, hammered Northampton Saints 45-14.