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France coach Fabien Galthie described the actions of Tadhg Beirne and Porter in the incident which led to Dupont’s season-ending injury as “reprehensible” although they both avoided any sanction during the game.

Galthie reported the Ireland duo to the match’s citing commissioner but no action has been taken against them.

Dupont was attempting to steal the ball in the 28th minute and was challenged by Beirne, who then fell on to the scrum-half’s right leg as Irish prop Porter joined the ruck.

Porter insisted that he hadn’t committed any foul play, adding that he had sent a well-wishing message on Instagram to the France captain.

“He]Galthie] can say what he wants, see how far it gets him”, said Porter.

“I knew what I did. I didn’t go out to try to injure anyone. That’s not the type of player I am”.

Porter added that the France head coach “calling for your head…… it’s a bit much”.

“He’s such a pivotal player for them that they nearly don’t want him to be touched at all.

” He]Galthie] is entitled to his opinion but I know I haven’t done anything wrong there. I sleep well at night. “

The Ireland prop attempted to draw parallels with the career-ending injury suffered by Ireland back row Dan Leavy in 2019.

Like Leavy, Dupont’s knee was caught among collapsing bodies during a Leinster game against Ulster but Porter insisted that nobody was to blame.

” It]Saturday’s incident] was a rugby incident. I can barely remember exactly what it is. I think it was in a ruck, his leg got trapped in between a ruck, when he was trying to counter it and he obviously just got trapped and went over.. but that’s rugby, that happens.

“I don’t think anyone was calling for anyone to cite when Dan Leavy did his knee a few years ago, which resulted in him having to finish his career early”.

Porter added that Ireland, following the hammering by France, are now determined to perform as they know they can in their concluding Six Nations game against Italy.

The championship is now out of Ireland’s hands as they must beat Italy in Rome and hope that the results of the games which follow on Saturday go their way to clinch a record third successive Six Nations title.

Second-placed England are away to Wales while leaders France have their destiny in their own hands as they face Scotland in Paris in the final match of this year’s tournament.

“We can sit around and sulk all we like but we have another job to do next Saturday. If anything it has emboldened us to go out and put out the rugby we know we can play”, he said.

Guinness Six Nations 2025: France v Scotland

When: Saturday, 15 March 2025 Kick-off: 20: 00 GMT Where: Stade de France, Paris

Having been part of the Toulouse side that swept all before them last season, Blair Kinghorn is now tasked with trying to halt his superstar club-mates in France colours from completing their charge to the Six Nations title.

Scotland head for Paris and their final match of the tournament hoping to derail what looks like an unstoppable French juggernaut fresh from a clinical dismantling of a previously unbeaten Ireland side.

Kinghorn won a Champions Cup and Top 14 double with Toulouse last season, a far cry from his days as one of the shining lights in a consistently under-performing Edinburgh side.

He has taken his game to another level and Scotland are now reaping the benefit.

Aside from a poor showing against Ireland – along with the rest of the Scotland team – Kinghorn has enjoyed an excellent Six Nations.

The statistics show him at the top of the charts for carries, metres carried, metres gained and offloads as well as second for line-breaks.

Kinghorn has always been a player blessed with incredible natural attributes and an outstanding skillset.

That all-round talent means he has been deployed in various positions along the back-line for Scotland.

Indeed, he has scored two Six Nations hat-tricks against Italy – one from the wing (in 2019), and one from fly-half (in 2023).

That decision to convert Kinghorn into a number 10 for Edinburgh and Scotland – dubbed ‘ the Blair-Switch Project ‘ – stemmed from a desire to find a suitable alternative to Finn Russell for the national team.

His adaptability meant he offered plenty in that role, but Kinghorn comes alive in the open field that only comes while playing in the back three, and it is in the more familiar role of full-back he is now thriving.

“I do think having an appreciation for how difficult it is for a 10 helps you in your position as a 15”, said Scotland’s record points-scorer Chris Paterson, who at times in his own career flitted between fly-half and full-back.

“If you’ve played 10, you know what you’re looking for. Then if you drop to 15, by definition, you kind of know what the opposition 10 is looking for.

” So it allows you to be in position quicker, because you can almost read the play.

“The skillsets are quite similar as well. You spend a bit of time in the backfield as a 10, you’ll spend a bit of time kicking as a 15.

” It also helps you take pressure off the 10 you’re playing alongside, because it’s a vulnerable position and it’s an exposed position. Almost every decision feels as if it has to go through the 10.

“His physical attributes – his speed, his size, his height, his ability to dominate space in the air, to catch a ball above his head – and his skillset – his distribution, his timing on to the ball, his kicking – is excellent.

Kinghorn’s understanding of where and when to arrive into the attacking line was evident in some of the stunning tries constructed against England and Wales.

A show reel of Kinghorn’s X-factor moments would be a long one, and since his move to link up with the galacticos of Toulouse, there is now a maturity to his game to complement the fireworks.

” Blair Kinghorn is so much fun to watch, “said Johnnie Beattie, the former Scotland number eight who now lives and works in France covering the Top 14.

” He’s class and a good character as well, which us Scots love, but they love him here in France too.

“Starting on the wing or at full-back for Toulouse, he’s been phenomenal. With the power he plays behind, the creativity, the opportunities and space he’s given on the ball, he’s been exceptional.

” He’s a wonderful athlete. This is the longest run of games we’ve seen him start for Scotland at full-back, and he’s been excellent.