Dupont eyeing Six Nations showdown with Ireland after Italy rout

Antoine Dupont is already looking ahead to France's likely Six Nations decider with Ireland after his team ran in a record 11 tries in Sunday's crushing 73-24 win over Italy.

Star scrum-half Dupont was key as France secured their biggest-ever win in the tournament, dotting down twice and conducting a masterclass in ball-handling.

Les Bleus trail Ireland by three points in the Six Nations standings and their chances of being crowned champions hinge on their trip to Dublin next month.

Ireland have won all three of their matches and are gunning for a second Grand Slam in three years with the visit of France and a trip to Italy left in their campaign.

"We suspected from the outset that this would be the biggest match of the competition. Knowing the Irish, we had few doubts," Dupont told reporters.

"They are capable of racking up victories and we knew that that match would be extremely important.

"We now have two weeks to prepare and try to get the best possible result, which is obviously to bring home the victory."

France head coach Fabien Galthie was naturally enthused by his team's stunning display in the Italian capital which featured a brace of tries from both Dupont and Leo Barre, with seven other players crossing including Pierre-Louis Barassi who scored in the final minute of the match.

His team bounced back from their narrow and painful defeat to England at Twickenham a fortnight ago when they were dominant but failed to capitalise on their try-scoring opportunities.

"We've felt for a while that we're capable of reaching a really high level of quality," said Galthie.

"What I liked is that we were in sync, all together, we made decisions together and we executed together.

"We agreed on what we wanted to do together and what I like is that we have everything we need to perform well (...) we've felt for a while that we're capable of achieving great things."

Galthie also has confidence in France's chances for the rest of the tournament and is looking forward to doing battle with the Irish.

"We are fuelled by everything we go through, when we succeed and when we fail. In any case, we have a big challenge waiting for us in Dublin," he said.

It was back to the drawing board for Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada whose team were put firmly back in their place after recent progress in the Six Nations.

Sunday's thrashing was their second worst, with an 80-23 humbling against England in 2001 still their blackest day in the tournament, even though they conceded 10 tries that day.

But Quesada insisted that Italy are better than what they demonstrated at the Stadio Olimpico, where they held their own for the first half an hour before eventually crumbling in the face of a French onslaught.

"It's very difficult when France play like that, when they produce that kind of rugby, but I don't think that the score reflects the difference between our two teams," said Quesada.

"We defended well for twenty minutes, but when all you do is defend, it's difficult, especially when France plays like that and when Antoine Dupont is having that kind of day... The way they play is magnificent."

England coach Steve Borthwick defended his side's tactics after they just did enough to regain the Calcutta Cup with a 16-15 win over Scotland that kept them in the hunt for the Six Nations title.

Boos rang out at Twickenham when England scrum-half Alex Mitchell launched yet another box kick into the air early in Saturday's second half.

It was a sign of the home fans' frustration with England's kick-dominated approach.

Scotland, far more threatening with ball in hand, outscored England three tries to one, albeit none were converted.

And England 2003 World Cup winner Will Greenwood, in his Telegraph column, said of Borthwick's men: "They simply play no rugby...The try tally was a damning indictment of the attacking capabilities of this England side."

But Borthwick hailed his team's resilience following their first Calcutta Cup victory since 2020.

"It's not necessarily how we wish to play, but there are two teams out there and we found a way to win," he said.

"I know often in terms of the commentary everyone talks about one team (England), but we respect there were two teams on the pitch."

Former England captain Borthwick added: "I've been very clear that I want the team to play with ball in hand, to attack with it, to be brave and aggressive, but there is another team trying to stop you –- and they (Scotland) are pretty good at it.

"That was a completely different game to one that we played in most recent times, it was a real tactical arm-wrestle in the middle of the pitch.

"Ultimately Scotland are strong in defence, strong at the breakdown and take the game to this kicking game."

'MAKINGS OF A REALLY GOOD TEAM 

Borthwick, a former lock, insisted: "You've got to be very good and very judicious about when you run the ball and I thought the players did it well. I'm pleased the team found a way to adapt and found a way to win."

Scotland ran riot in the early stages but fine defence by England, who made 206 tackles in the game, helped them to a second one-point win in a row this Six Nations following a 26-25 defeat of France that ended a run of seven straight losses to top-tier opposition.

"I'd point out how hard the team run for each other, which is definitely something that's developed," said Borthwick, whose side will be expected to produce a far more emphatic display when they resume their championship campaign against Italy, thrashed 73-24 by France in Rome on Sunday, at Twickenham on March 9.

"I'm a believer that you get back what you put in. I'm a believer that if you keep trying to do the right things, if you keep working hard, you will get rewarded.

"It's the way I was brought up, it's the way I believe in. So that's what we will continue to do. There's the making here of a really good team."

Back row forwards Tom Curry and Tom Willis suffered a dead leg and concussion respectively against Scotland, while full-back George Furbank – yet to feature in this Six Nations – is unlikely to play any part at all in the tournament because of a broken arm.