The Albany Gazette - Champions Cup success perfect Six Nations warm-up - France skipper Dupont

Dupont scored two of the 12 tries on Sunday as the six-time champions hammered Michael Cheika's Tigers 80-12 in their final pool game of the European tournament that also includes South African sides.

"It gets us started on preparing for the Six Nations championship," said Dupont.

"We saw that everyone was in great shape, able to move and hit it up, too."

Dupont is one of 13 Toulouse players included in Fabien Galthie's 42-man France squad for the Six Nations, with the opening game against Wales on January 31.

There follow three away trips, against England on February 8, Italy on February 23 and two-time defending champions Ireland on March 8.

The French wrap up their championship against Scotland at the Stade de France on March 15.

France locks Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament both also bagged braces of tries for Toulouse in the demolition of Leicester.

"It's our best match of the season with this squad," said Toulouse coach Ugo Mola, who was left frustrated at last week's stale, bonus point-lacking win over the Sharks.

"I no longer have any doubts at all. This team is all-giving when it plays together."

Dupont acknowledged that the "match was close to perfection".

Toulouse's victory followed Bordeaux-Begles' 66-12 dismantling of the Sharks, France winger Damian Penaud crossing for a tournament record six tries in a match.

It puts France in good shape for the Six Nations.

"There was a lot of pleasure, it was a great team effort," said Flament of Toulouse's victory before turning towards France duty.

"There's a lot of excitement and I hope pleasure to come," he said. "The job is done, we can carry on in peace."

In the meantime, the Top 14 rolls on, but Dupont insisted that he and his international colleagues had faith in the wider squad.

"We are used to these periods," he said. "It is a special feeling to leave knowing that the club is playing, it is part of our sport, we are the only ones to do that

"We trust the others to do the job and allow the team to have a happy spring."

Coach Mola added that he was "a little worried" before the wave of departures.

"When I have them, I'm happy to have them," he said, before adding: "Just remember that this generation has only had one Grand Slam in five years, so they might have to get moving a little.

"It's never easy to lose 16 or 17 of your best players, but the rules are known to everyone, it's the price to pay for having a high-performing team."

(P.Clark--TAG)