DUBLIN: France will have to seal the Six Nations title without injured talisman Antoine Dupont but Saturday's devastating display in beating Ireland 42-27 is significant according to No 8 Gregory Alldritt as it showed they can triumph in "huge matches."

The manner of how French captain Dupont suffered a suspected cruciate ligament injury in a ruck in the first-half left both Alldritt and head coach Fabien Galthie seething.

Both claimed the scrum-half widely considered to be the best player in the world was targeted by lock Tadhg Beirne, though, the referee Angus Gardner and the Irish interim head coach Simon Easterby begged to differ.

"When you return to the changing room and you see one of your best friends in that state it rips your guts up," said Alldritt.