Laporte: Croker clash will be le crunch match for Les Bleus

FRENCH coach Bernard Laporte believes victory over Ireland in Dublin this season could ultimately see his team retain the RBS 6 Nations Championship crown.

If Les Bleus are to clinch a fourth Six Nations title, then they face achieving it the hard way.

After next week’s opener against Italy in Rome, they will become the first Test match opponents for Ireland at Croke Park.

France then host Wales, hoping for only a second victory from the last five Paris Tests against Stephen Jones’ side, before tackling England at Twickenham and winding up against Scotland.

But Laporte has already identified the February 11 clash with Ireland as critical to the Six Nations season.

With Lansdowne Road being redeveloped, Ireland have moved to GAA headquarters, and Laporte is under no illusions about the task that awaits his players.

He said: “It is important to win the first game against Italy, and then if we can beat Ireland, I think it could mean we will win the tournament. The Irish will be more motivated than ever (playing at Croke Park), but we are just there to play rugby.”

France were crushed 47-3 by the All Blacks in Lyon, before losing 23-11 in Paris a week later, conceding nine tries over both Tests.

New Zealand could hardly have made a greater statement of intent in terms of their World Cup ambitions, but Laporte, in his final year as France boss, has remained positive.

“We took a lot of lessons from both New Zealand Tests, especially the first match in Lyon,” he insisted.

“I was impressed by the way we then rebounded and beat Argentina (France won 27-26), particularly as we had lost to them on four previous occasions.

“Yes, we would like to defend our Six Nations title, and then the World Cup arrives six months later.

“I would say 21 players are already definitely there in terms of the World Cup squad, which leaves nine places to fill.”

Laporte is currently working with a 40-man group preparing for the Six Nations, although there remains doubt about fly-half options following a serious injury to Frederic Michalak.

David Skrela and Damien Traille, normally at centre, are the likely options, but Laporte said: “I am pleased with the squad — it is a good mixture of youth and experience.”

Plans to reduce the squad towards match-day proportions of 22 players have been delayed because of injury problems. The party will be named on Sunday following the latest round of French Championship action, with team manager Jo Maso declaring: “There are too many uncertainties.

“There is no point in naming a squad now, if we then have to change it in two days’ time.”