France No 8 Gregory Alldritt mentioned on Friday changing the injured Antoine Dupont as captain has “changed nothing” within the build-up to this weekend’s Six Nations title decider with Scotland.
HT Picture
Talisman Dupont is lacking from Saturday’s recreation as a result of a critical knee damage he suffered in final weekend’s demolition of holders Eire.
Alldritt’s facet are assured a second Six Nations in 4 years in the event that they handle to beat Scotland with a bonus level.
“It’s changed nothing at all,” Alldritt instructed reporters.
“We’re at the end of a Six Nations, the system has been in place since the start.
“We have continued with what we have been engaged on for seven weeks.
“I’m captain this weekend but our captain for the Six Nations, and France’s captain remains Antoine,” the 27-year-old added.
Les Bleus are 80 minutes away from the title regardless of a gutting loss to England in spherical three, which was adopted by spectacular victories away to Italy and Eire.
“I believe a lot in destiny, so I asked myself, would we have put in such performances against Ireland and Italy, had we have won in England?” Alldritt mentioned.
“We’ll never know.
“We have progressed little by little.
“We’ve matured, become more consistent and I hope we’ll prove that once again tomorrow night,” he added.
France host Scotland within the closing match on Saturday, after Eire head to Italy and England journey to Wales, needing wins to maintain their hopes of the title alive.
“There’s no strict instructions about watching the other games,” Alldritt mentioned.
“When we get on the field we don’t need to know England or Ireland’s results.
“Once we put on the jersey we wish to give every thing, win each recreation we play and no matter these outcomes it will not affect our preparation,” he added. – ‘Disrupt’ –
Earlier on Friday, Scotland fly-half Finn Russell said his side plan to spoil France’s hopes of the title.
Their own aspirations for a first Six Nations crown this century are slim, due to their inferior points difference to France.
“They have every thing to play for. Hopefully, we will disrupt it,” co-captain Russell told reporters.
“I do know it will be a large problem tomorrow evening.”
Scotland denied France the 2021 title in the last game of the tournament thanks to an 84th-minute try in front of empty stands due to Covid restrictions.
Russell kicked 10 points that day in Scotland’s first away win against France since 1999.
“It has been spoken about,” Russell said.
“However I believe 4 years is a very long time in the past, so it will be very totally different tomorrow evening.
“I think the French team has come on a lot from there and I think we have as well. But against the French team, also the crowd here, it’s very tough,” the previous Racing 92 playmaker added.
After the France recreation, Russell’s subsequent worldwide involvement may very well be this summer season’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
“Personally, if you look too far ahead to the summer, you then start having hiccups in the season and that’s not what you need,” Russell mentioned on his possibilities of being chosen.
“For me, it’s just trying to focus on getting my job right and trying to drive the team as well as I can tomorrow night to get the result.
“I believe the Lions are a good distance away.”
iwd/ea