Champions Cup success the perfect Six Nations warmup, says France skipper Antoine Dupont
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Toulouse's French scrum-half Antoine Dupont being tackled by Leicester's English fullback Freddie Steward during the European Rugby Champions Cup match.
PHOTO: AFP
TOULOUSE – France captain Antoine Dupont said Toulouse’s thrashing of Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup was the perfect warmup for the Six Nations.
Dupont scored two of the 12 tries on Jan 19 as the six-time champions hammered Michael Cheika’s Tigers 80-12 in their final pool game of the European tournament that also includes South African sides.
“It gets us started on preparing for the Six Nations Championship. We saw that everyone was in great shape, able to move and hit it up too,” said Dupont.
Dupont is one of 13 Toulouse players included in Fabien Galthie’s 42-man France squad for the Six Nations, with the opening game against Wales on Jan 31.
Three away trips follow, against England on Feb 8, Italy on Feb 23 and two-time defending champions Ireland on March 8.
The French wrap up their championship against Scotland at the Stade de France on March 15.
France locks Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament also bagged braces of tries for Toulouse in the demolition of Leicester.
“It’s our best match of the season with this squad,” said Toulouse coach Ugo Mola, who was left frustrated at the stale win over the Sharks on Jan 11, when they failed to get a bonus point.
“I no longer have any doubts at all. This team is all-giving when it plays together.”
Dupont acknowledged that the “match was close to perfection”.
Toulouse’s victory followed Bordeaux-Begles’ 66-12 dismantling of the Sharks, with France winger Damian Penaud crossing for a tournament record six tries in a match.
It puts France in good shape for the Six Nations.
“There was a lot of pleasure, it was a great team effort,” said Flament of Toulouse’s victory before focusing on France duty.
“There’s a lot of excitement and I hope pleasure to come. The job is done, we can carry on in peace.”
In the meantime, the Top 14 rolls on, but Dupont insisted that he and his international colleagues had faith in the wider squad.
“We are used to these periods,” the 28-year-old said.
“It is a special feeling to leave knowing that the club is playing, it is part of our sport, we are the only ones to do that. We trust the others to do the job and allow the team to have a happy spring.”
Mola added that he was “a little worried” before the wave of departures.
“When I have them, I’m happy to have them,” he said. “Just remember that this generation has only had one Grand Slam in five years, so they might have to get moving a little.
“It’s never easy to lose 16 or 17 of your best players, but the rules are known to everyone, it’s the price to pay for having a high-performing team.” AFP
