Dupont stays grounded despite France's commanding Six Nations opener

France captain Antoine Dupont has downplayed his team's Six Nations title prospects despite delivering a resounding 43-0 victory over Wales in their opening match.

The dominant display on Friday reaffirmed their status as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders, but Dupont insists there is still much work to be done.

The French playmaker returned to Six Nations action after a year’s absence, during which he pursued Olympic sevens ambitions. His comeback was nothing short of spectacular, orchestrating three tries within the opening 22 minutes, setting the stage for an emphatic victory.

Following their dismantling of Wales, France now prepare for a crucial showdown against England at Twickenham next Saturday.
England, who will begin their campaign against defending champions Ireland, will present a different challenge to the struggling Welsh side.

"We have experience in this competition," Dupont remarked after the win, acknowledging that early success does not guarantee the title.

"A very good first match gives you no guarantees for the rest of the Six Nations."

While France’s performance was described as "almost perfect" by French media, Dupont remains cautious ahead of their upcoming fixture, noting that England is in a different position compared to Wales.

France has historically faced difficulties in campaigns with three away fixtures, last winning the title under such circumstances in 2007.

Their most recent Six Nations triumph came in 2022, when they secured a Grand Slam, but expectations of World Cup success the following year were dashed by a quarter-final exit against South Africa.

Returning to Twickenham, where they secured a commanding 53-10 win over England two years ago, France will aim to build on their strong start.

"We owe it to ourselves to do well," Dupont emphasized.

"Away matches are often the foundation stone of something. In our more successful Six Nations campaigns, there's always been one statement match, and it’s often been away."