Ireland out to stop ‘darting fish’ Dupont and France

On the eve of the Six Nations, Ireland captain Caelan Doris used an amusing analogy to describe the world’s best player and highlight one of the myriad of challenges facing his side in Thursday’s Stade de France tournament opener.

Asked about returning France captain Antoine Dupont, Doris described the famously elusive scrum-half as “one of those little fish you try to touch and they dart away from you”.

“He’s done me several times,” admitted Doris.

“I can think of one particular instance in 2023 where I feel I have him coming up one side of the breakdown and then he twirls and goes around me and beats three defenders on the other side.”

Doris and Ireland can only hope that Dupont, back from a spell on the sidelines caused by a collision with Irish players last year, isn’t so slippery on Thursday.

The Toulouse star is the heartbeat of a French attack that could dent Ireland’s title hopes again.

In Dublin last year, not even Dupont’s withdrawal after 30 minutes could stop a rampant French side from ripping Ireland to shreds with 34 unanswered second-half points.

It was a haunting afternoon for those in green, and even though Doris carefully sidestepped a question about seeking “revenge”, Ireland’s pre-tournament headaches would make victory in Paris one of the more unlikely achievements under head coach Andy Farrell.

Source: RhinoEasy News