Respect.

All Blacks nine Aaron Smith has heralded fellow scrumhalf, Antoine Dupont, as the best player in the world right now.

Dupont has been in incredible form over the last couple of seasons for both club and country and was once again the difference maker as France made light work of Italy over the weekend in the opening round of the Six Nations.

And Smith, who for many years was heralded as the best nine in the world himself, reckons Dupon is on another level to anyone else right now.

Smith said “no one is near” Dupont and the moment and he’s driving the New Zealander to improve several aspects of his own game.

“This guy is on another level!” Smith tweeted.

“No one is near him atm. He’s the point of difference for both his Club and country. He’s helping me look at parts of my game to improve.”