Dupont: France ready for huge Ireland clash in Six Nations
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France will be ready for a "huge" Six Nations meeting with Ireland, so says captain Antoine Dupont.
Les Bleus cruised to an emphatic 73-24 victory over Italy in Rome on Sunday.
With 14 tries scored, this match broke the previous Six Nations record of 12 in a game, and marked France's highest score in the championship.
It is the second-highest points tally by any team in a Six Nations fixture, after England's 80-23 win against the Azzurri in 2001.
France are second in the standings on 11 points, three behind Grand Slam-hunting Ireland ahead of a crunch clash in Dublin on March 8.
"We know it will be a huge game in Dublin," Dupont told ITV Sport.
"We have two weeks to prepare for that but it will be tough for sure."
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Italy went ahead when Tommaso Menoncello crossed, yet tries from Mickael Guillard, Peato Mauvaka and Dupont put France in control.
The hosts responded through Ignacio Brex, but Paul Boudehent and Leo Barre nudged France further ahead.
Gregory Alldritt, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Dupont crossed before Paolo Garbisi grabbed a third try for Italy, but Barre, Theo Attissogbe and Pierre-Louis Barassi rounded off France's rout.
"It was a tough game, especially at the start," added Dupont.
"We were able to keep the intensity for 80 minutes which is not easy against this Italy team, so we can be proud."
Dupont scored two tries and assisted three. It is just the fourth time a player has been directly involved in five tries in a Six Nations game, alongside Austin Healey (three tries, two assists v Italy in 2000), Frederic Michalak (one try, four assists v Italy in 2006) and Dupont himself (one try, four assists v Italy in 2021).
