France rugby star Antoine Dupont says he ruptured cruciate ligaments in his right knee during his team’s win over Ireland in the Six Nations.

Gregory Alldritt believes the sight of injured captain Antoine Dupont sitting disconsolate in the changing room fuelled France’s second-half annihilation of Ireland in Dublin. Scrum-half Dupont – widely regarded as the world’s best player – was helped from the pitch in the 29th minute after suffering serious knee damage at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

France head coach Fabien Galthie has branded the incident which injured Antoine Dupont as "reprehensible" amid reports his captain faces nine months on the sidelines. Les Bleus captain Dupont - widely-regarded as the world's best player - is suspected to have suffered serious knee damage after being hurt during a ruck clearout involving Ireland pair Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter.