After a lacklustre win over Australia on Saturday, France’s thoughts moved quickly onto the return of captain Antoine Dupont in time for the defence of their Six Nations title.
The scrumhalf has been out since March with a serious knee injury but is expected to be back for club Toulouse within two weeks, well ahead of France’s Six Nations opener against Ireland on 5 February.
The 29-year-old superstar missed the 48-33 win over the Wallabies, as well as a victory over Fiji and the humbling by the Springboks in November.
Les Bleus failed to live up to expectations as a swashbuckling side capable of challenging the best in the world under head coach Fabien Galthie.
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“He’s the best player in world, it’s as simple as that,” France captain Gael Fickou told reporters after the success over the Wallabies. There’s no one better. There are good players but he has that little X factor.
“I hope his return goes well, and he rediscovers the standard he had before,” the 31-year-old added.
Galthie’s explanation behind the dreary campaign was a lack of time with his squad, compared to the opposition.
Galthie bemoaned the fact he had only five training sessions with his players before the Springbok loss, when the four-time World Cup winners had been together since June, as had the Wallabies.
The French Rugby Federation and the professional clubs are currently in negotiations about giving Galthie more time with his set-up.
“It’s very hard to have the South African system, or the Australian one,” Fickou said. “That’s how things are. We have to adapt and do better.”
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The 98-time international made his Test debut in 2013, and could reach a century of caps against Wales in the second round of the Six Nations on 15 February.
The Racing 92 midfielder would become just the third player to reach the landmark for Les Bleus after former captain Fabien Pelous and ex-centre Philippe Sella.
“There are only two that have done it,” Fickou said. “I think about it because everyone talks about it but to be honest, my goal is to get to the 2027 World Cup.”
Fickou captained against the Boks, as he did against New Zealand in July, in Dupont’s absence, but his starting centre berth could be under threat by the time the Six Nations comes around.
“There are great players and there’s crazy competition that I’ve never seen at international level,” Fickou said. “It pushes me to be better. France aren’t lacking in centres right now.”
Bordeaux-Begles’ Nicolas Depoortere, Pau’s Emilien Gailleton as well as Toulouse pair Pierre-Louis Barassi and Kalvin Gourgues were given minutes during the Autumn Nations Series.
Depoortere scored two tries and 20-year-old Gourgues set up a try against the Wallabies while the dependable Yoram Moefana is expected to be fit for the start of the Six Nations.
– AFP
Photo: Lionel Hahn/Getty Images
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