Warren Gatland believes that Antoine Dupont’s absence from the Guinness Six Nations has proved “a massive loss” for France. Les Bleus’ mercurial World Cup captain has joined the sevens circuit ahead of the Paris Olympics later this year.
And France have struggled without him, being beaten comprehensively by Six Nations title favourites Ireland and then drawing at home against Italy, either side of narrowly defeating Scotland.
They tackle Wales at the Principality Stadium on Sunday, when Gatland’s team will target a first Six Nations victory over them since 2019. “It just shows when you are with a team – and we have been lucky enough with this in the past and it is the challenge going forward – that having two or three X-factor players in your team can make a massive difference,” Wales head coach Gatland said. “Sometimes you get two relatively even teams, but it is the individual brilliance of someone who can change a game. “There is no doubt for me that Dupont is a massive loss for them.
He is probably the best player in the world. “We have already seen what he has done with the French sevens team. They won the sevens tournament (in Los Angeles). “(Romain) Ntamack is a big loss for them in terms of that nine-10 partnership.