Dupont's injury leaves France 'gutted'
Today at 06:32 AM
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: France will have to seal the Six Nations title without injured talisman Antoine Dupont.
However Saturday's devastating display in beating Ireland 42-27 is significant according to No.8 Gregory Alldritt as it showed they can triumph in "huge matches."
The manner in how French captain Dupont suffered a suspected cruciate ligament injury in a ruck in the first half left both Alldritt and head coach Fabien Galthie seething.
Both claimed the scrum-half widely considered to be the best player in the world was targeted by lock Tadhg Beirne, though, the referee Angus Gardner and the Irish interim head coach Simon Easterby begged to differ.
"When you return to the changing room and you see one of your best friends in that state it rips your guts up," said Alldritt.
"It did, though, put fire in our bellies for the second half."
'Very humble'
Alldritt, who had an outstanding match beginning early on in preventing opposing No 8 Caelan Doris touching down, said he and his teammates were determined to set things right.
"For us the players, there has been a lot of frustration because we have let slip several opportunities," he said.
"We were determined not to do the same thing this year.
"It is not over, but, we are where we wanted to be, at least after the England match (the defeat crushed their Grand Slam dream)."
Galthie will have taken heart for the Scotland game at the character his team showed, with back-rower Oscar Jegou having to play in midfield owing to Pierre-Louis Barassi's head injury.
The 21-year-old, who scored a try, had to slot in there as Galthie had selected seven forwards and one back on the bench -- scrum-half Maxime Lucu coming on for Dupont.
"We did not tremble up front nor did we wobble behind the pack," said 55-year-old Galthie.
For Galthie it was a performance to savour.
Not just because it put behind them the trauma from the England loss but also how clinical they had been in taking their chances, which had not been the case against the English.
"The team have reacted well after the England match, indeed very well for three weeks now," said Galthie.
"We have something good going. It is not yet achieved, but we have scored 26 tries, not counting those we have let slip.
"We have to be very humble because all that is down to work, developing it and it makes us stronger.
"For the moment, in any case, defences have trouble containing us."
Scotland have been duly warned.
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