Rugby: First round exit a frightening prospect for France

PARIS: Three-times runnersup France head to the World Cup knowing that defeat to Argentina in their opening game in Japan might lead to them being knocked out in the pool stage for the first time.

Defeat would leave them needing a win over England to have any chance of advancing to the quarter-final stage but in their last 10 meetings they have beaten the English only three times. With Brunel and his predecessor Guy Noves tinkering with their halfback combinations, trying out a total of 16 pairings since 2016, Dupont is one of Les Bleus' rare hopes for the future.The 22-year-old looks to be a certain starter against Argentina but it is unclear whether Camille Lopez or Romain Ntamack will start at flyhalf.

The number eight might tell tales from the 2011 World Cup, when France were routed 37-17 by New Zealand in the pool phase and scraped into the playoffs before the players rebelled against coach Marc Lievremont and went on to reach the final.

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