Live updates of the Six Nations opener between France and Ireland at Stade de France.<\/p>\n
Star France halfback Antoine Dupont will make his return to the team to face Ireland in the Six Nations after head coach Fabien Galthie on Tuesday named him as captain.<\/p>\n
Dupont has not played for France since tearing his cruciate knee ligament against Ireland in March during last year\u2019s Six Nations tournament.<\/p>\n
That was a pivotal moment as France bounced back from their shock 38-17 defeat at home to the Irish in 2024 to record a thumping 42-27 success in Dublin that propelled them to the Six Nations crown.<\/p>\n
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n The 29-year-old made his competitive return after eight months out for club Toulouse in November.<\/p>\n He will partner Bordeaux-Begles fly-half Mathieu Jalibert for only the second time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cI expect them to use their abilities to combine the strengths around them… to conduct our attacking and defensive play,\u201d Galthie told reporters after naming what was France\u2019s World Cup halfback pairing in the absence of Dupont\u2019s Toulouse teammate Romain Ntamack, who is injured again.<\/p>\n \u201cI expect them to do what they have been doing with us in training \u2013 that they bring their energy, their talent, their joy at being amongst us \u2013 nothing more,\u201d he added before Thursday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n Galthie gave Anthony Jelonch the nod at No 8 with Gregory Alldritt dropped from the squad, while Theo Attissogbe comes in at right wing with France\u2019s record try-scorer Damian Penaud axed over defensive concerns.<\/p>\n Dorian Aldegheri will start at tight-head prop with Uini Atonio forced to retire after suffering a heart attack last week, as Regis Montagne starts on the bench.<\/p>\n The loss of 35-year-old Atonio from the squad has been keenly felt.<\/p>\n \u201cUini is someone who showed the right path through his actions \u2013 and always with a smile,\u201d said Galthie about the New Zealand-born colossus.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Mickael Guillard and Charles Ollivon start in the second row with Oscar Jegou and Francois Cros picked either side of Jelonch.<\/p>\n Like Ireland\u2019s head coach Andy Farrell, Galthie has opted for six forwards and just two backs on the bench.<\/p>\n Peato Mauvaka is preferred as the replacement hooker to Maxime Lamothe, while talented Toulouse centre Kalvin Gourgues will provide cover for the three-quarters alongside scrum-half Baptiste Serin.<\/p>\n France are aiming for back-to-back Six Nations titles for the first time in almost 20 years, and a first Grand Slam since 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cNot everything will be perfect in this opening match, but what I feel and what I expect is that flame that has often carried us, and which has allowed us to win matches and to show character and energy,\u201d said Galthie.<\/p>\n One thing he does not want to see is the defensive and discipline issues that blighted France\u2019s Autumn Nations Series campaign, in which they suffered a humbling 32-17 defeat to South Africa despite their opponents playing the second half with 14 men.<\/p>\n