Les Bleus went down by a single point in 'Le Crunch' after a 79th-minute conversion from Guinness Player of the Match Fin Smith, having led for the majority of the game,
"We only have ourselves to blame.," said captain Dupont, one of the most influential players in world rugby. "The first half was far from perfect; we should have scored at least three tries. Had we done so, the match would have been completely different. They were pragmatic—every time they entered our half, they scored. We, on the other hand, wasted too many opportunities. At this level, if you don’t take your chances, you don’t win. It’s as simple as that."
The match may have been error-strewn, but it made for hugely entertaining rugby as both teams looked to run the ball despite the wet conditions.
"They hardly had any possession in the first half," summarised the Toulouse scrum-half, "which was when the ball was at its most slippery. Yes, handling was difficult, but we’ve played and trained in these conditions before, so I don’t know why it didn’t work this time. Either way, it’s frustrating. We played good rugby, we put them under pressure several times, but unfortunately, we didn’t capitalise enough.
Still, Dupont maintained that the Championship has a long way to go until the title is decided: "The next two matches will be crucial: first against Italy, then against Ireland, who remain one of the tournament favourites and against whom it will be a huge clash. The tournament is far from over, but right now, there’s a lot of disappointment."
Fullback Ramos, who kicked 10 of his team's points, was left to rue France's missed chances in the first half. "At this level, when you let a team stay in the game and keep believing, they will punish you in the end," said the 29-year-old. "Credit to them, they never gave up. On our side, we lacked precision, especially two metres from the line, and I think that cost us the game tonight.
"We faced a strong England team, with a powerful pack and quality players in the backs. That's just the way it is. There were no surprises in their approach, we knew what to expect. We knew they were a skilful team, but beyond that, I think we did what was needed in the first half to score points and tries.
"Unfortunately, we didn't capitalise on our opportunities. More than their performance and their resilience, I think what really hurt us today was our first half. That’s what put us in trouble."
"We know this year is challenging with three away games, but when you have ambitions to win the Chmpionship, starting with a defeat on the road is tough to take. We still have three games left, and if we win them, anything can happen. It's up to us to stay focused and believe in ourselves, because nothing is decided yet."
After a bye weekend, France will next face Italy on Sunday 23rd February at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
