How to stop Antoine Dupont: JOE MARLER, SIR CLIVE WOODWARD and DAN BIGGAR's definitive guide to England's Mission Impossible - using NFL tactics, shutting down his sidekick ...and laxatives!

It would be more fitting if Antoine Dupont’s matchday kit included a mask and cape – or even a crown. Rugby’s superhero and Gallic king will grace Twickenham with his presence today, leaving England fans deeply conflicted, writes CHRIS FOY. Most spectators in the capacity crowd for Le Crunch will crave a Six Nations upset; an against-the-odds home win. But they will also pour into the stadium full of anticipation about the prospect of seeing an oval-ball icon at the peak of his powers.

If Dupont isn’t already the GOAT (greatest of all time), then he is surely on course to be. What he is, without question, is a generational talent and legend. This remarkable Frenchman is single-handedly capable of undermining centuries of cross-Channel antipathy, by attracting the warmth and admiration of an English audience, in defiance of their national allegiance. It isn’t even grudging – he attracts genuine awe and wonder, which cuts across the boundaries of entrenched rivalries. Fans wearing the red rose in south-west London today will be glad to witness a genius in action, even if he does untold harm to their team.

Dupont is already established in the rugby pantheon and he is now also operating in the sporting stratosphere, as one of the greatest ball-playing showmen on earth. Antoine Dupont attracts awe and wonder, even across the boundaries of entrenched rivalries. He is already established in the sporting stratosphere and many consider him the greatest ever. The Frenchman, who won an Olympic gold, transcends own sport in a way that few others do.

When he took a holiday trip to the USA last year, the Toulouse scrum-half met up with Lionel Messi and LeBron James, and the sight of the sorcerers together was a fitting reflection of his exalted status. He transcends his own game in a way few others do. While the 28-year-old does not yet have a stellar CV on the same level of a Richie McCaw or Dan Carter, he is adding eye-catching entries at a remarkable rate.

Last year, there was an epic personal Treble, as he won the Champions Cup and Top 14 league with his club, then switched into Sevens mode and inspired France’s surge to golden glory in front of their euphoric public in Paris. It is impossible to exaggerate his standing among the French people. Dupont is lord and master of all he surveys. In a country where rugby eclipses football in terms of nationwide popularity, the No 9 is the box-office star; the poster boy and darling. He was the face of the Olympics.

They worship him and the adulation has spread. When he comes to English grounds with Toulouse, the home fans flock to this piped piper figure. Security has to be stepped up. People recognise greatness and they crave a glimpse. Those backing England this evening will arrive at the game knowing that even if it all ends in tears for the national team, they can tell their children and grandchildren that they watched Dupont in his prime. He is becoming that figure; that Messi or Sachin Tendulkar or Michael Jordan. Enjoy him while you can.

As for stopping him; impossible. Dupont doesn’t have bad games. He has two settings; very, very good or utterly brilliant. He could probably play in a mask and cape, or even in a crown, and still make a mockery of the opposition defence. The man has no weakness. Dupont could probably play in a mask and cape, or even in a crown, and be outstanding. He is becoming an iconic global figure like Lionel Messi, Sachin Tendulkar or Michael Jordan.

All England can try to do is destroy Dupont's platform by overwhelming France's massive pack. All England can try to do is destroy his platform, by overwhelming France’s pack, but that itself is a near-impossible task. Earlier this week, in these pages, there was a call to block the Channel or deny Dupont entry at passport control, but it’s too late, he is in the country and soon he will be in the building.

So, frankly, just savour it. Pray for the home side, by all means, but all who watch today’s game should be willing witnesses as rugby’s regal superhero continues his march towards immortality. Here, Mail Sport’s esteemed columnists have all sought to identify flickers of English hope and ways to combat the maestro No 9. Forgive them if that sound you can hear is the clutching of straws. JOE MARLER.

Former England prop, 95 caps. In my eyes, Antoine Dupont is the greatest player I’ve ever seen. Now, my rugby eyes only go back to 2003, if you can have such a thing as rugby eyes. It also feels slightly like I’m just jumping on a bandwagon everyone else is already rolling along on, because we were all talking about Dupont even before he did what he did in 48 ridiculous minutes against Wales last week.