Six Nations: England Vs France — Why France Will Wear Light Blue and Dupont Says Team Has Recovered
The upcoming england vs france meeting will see France don a special pale blue shirt to mark 120 years of the rivalry, and captain Antoine Dupont says the team have recovered from their heavy defeat at Murrayfield and remain focused on winning the tournament.
England Vs France: The Pale Blue Jersey And Kit Clash Concerns
France will wear a special edition pale blue shirt in their Six Nations game in Paris to commemorate 120 years of matches against England. The design references the original light blue jersey worn by the French team in 1906 for their first fixture against England and is fitted with a 1927 federation logo marking the year of France’s first victory over England. The collection also features ‘Tricolore’ stripes as a nod to the French kits of the late 1980s and 1990s when adidas was the kit supplier.
Because England play in white, the change has prompted concerns about a possible kit clash. Reports suggest England will stick to their traditional white shirt. France usually play in a darker blue and wore their white away shirt in the 50-40 defeat at Edinburgh last weekend. The tournament has previously changed kit choices for visibility reasons — the Six Nations no longer allows red and green shirts in the Wales v Ireland fixture to help spectators who are colour blind distinguish the teams; Wales wore a white shirt in Dublin so it appeared light against Ireland’s green.
Dupont Says France Have Recovered And Still Want The Title
Dupont insisted the squad had bounced back from the “shattering” 50-40 defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield and that motivation has returned with a major prize still in reach. He said the team had gone through tough weeks before and that there remained “something at stake. ” Dupont added: “We’re capable of winning the tournament so it’s been easy easy to quickly switch gears and get our motivation back because there really is a great objective to achieve. “
He acknowledged the disappointment of losing a Grand Slam opportunity but stressed that winning the tournament would erase much of what came before: “Once you’ve won, all you remember is the winner’s name and the trophy. Maybe when we look back in 10 years, we’ll obviously regret that a Grand Slam is always better. But a tournament (win) is still a title and it’s already so hard to win that. It would be incredible to win it. “
Dupont warned against underestimating England despite their recent form, saying the opposition remain dangerous in a tournament where teams can change markedly from week to week. He noted England are an experienced side with individuals who can rise to big occasions.
What Is At Stake: Title, Bonus Points And A Ban
Destiny is in Les Bleus’ hands: a bonus-point win against Steve Borthwick’s side would secure a record eighth Six Nations crown, helped by France’s commanding points difference. Dupont said the team felt “a good energy this week” with more focus compared with the week of the Scotland match.
The match will also follow disciplinary developments already in place: the France flanker will serve a four-match ban, starting with France’s game against England on Saturday. Last year’s tournament saw England defeat France, adding historical weight to the fixture as both sides approach the final weekend.
With the title and significant pride on the line, kit choices, recent form and disciplinary issues combine to make this england vs france fixture a decisive and emotionally charged conclusion to the campaign.
