France took control of the 2025 Six Nations Championship with a commanding 42-27 victory over defending champions Ireland in Dublin. However, their triumph was overshadowed by the loss of captain Antoine Dupont, who suffered a serious knee injury in the 29th minute.
The injury occurred during a ruck when France led 5-0 at Aviva Stadium. Dupont, the 2021 World Player of the Year, later confirmed on social media that he had torn the cruciate ligaments in his right knee.
“It’s the start of a new challenge, I’ll see you in a few months on the pitch,” the 28-year-old wrote, adding that the emotional pain was greater than the physical setback. Despite missing the decisive clash against Scotland on Saturday, Dupont expressed confidence in his teammates, saying, “I am proud of what we accomplished and am with you with all my strength—you will do it.”
France’s Furious Response
French rugby officials reacted angrily to the circumstances of Dupont’s injury. They demanded disciplinary action against Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter, holding them responsible for the incident. Additionally, they called for further sanctions on Calvin Nash for his 45th-minute tackle on Pierre-Louis Barassi, which resulted in a concussion for the French player. Nash received a yellow card and was temporarily sidelined, but France capitalized on his absence, scoring 17 unanswered points to surge ahead 25-13. Even after Nash returned, France maintained their dominance, extending their lead to 42-13 before Ireland added two late consolation tries.
Following a narrow loss to England last month, France has been unstoppable. They thrashed Italy 73-24 before dismantling Ireland, proving their resilience despite losing their captain.
Head coach Fabien Galthié praised his squad’s response: “We have reacted well since Twickenham. The team has reacted really well. We’ve got something going, though it’s not finished yet.”
Looking Ahead
Galthié has called up Baptiste Serin and 19-year-old rising star Fabien Brau-Boirie as replacements for Dupont and Barassi. The final squad for the Scotland match will be announced on Thursday. A win at Stade de France would secure France’s first Six Nations title since 2022.
Meanwhile, Ireland still has a chance to retain the championship if they defeat Italy and Scotland avoid defeat in Paris. England also remains in contention but must beat Wales with a bonus point while hoping for a Scottish upset against France.
The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion to the 2025 Six Nations.
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