Welcome back, Antoine Dupont - Six Nations return is sparkling as France run riot against woeful Wales

France are many observers' favourites for the 2025 edition of this great tournament and the return of Dupont is one of the reasons why. The little magician did not play 12 months ago as he prepared for the Paris Olympics as a Sevens player and the French were weaker for his absence.

Not this time. The 28-year-old is front and centre of France's attack at scrum-half and he put on a show in Paris on opening night.

France made a statement of intent with this 43-0 win over Wales at the Stade de France. The hosts slayed a callow Welsh side that tried manfully to compete but were second best all over the pitch. It was not a particularly great way to mark head coach Warren Gatland's 150th game in charge.

Wales were error-strewn and coughed up too many penalties. On this evidence, it’s all about avoiding the wooden spoon for a side that remains very much in learning and transition. Italy next weekend in Rome, already a massive one. France will face far sterner challenges and were able to take off Dupont on the 50-minute mark ahead of Twickenham next Saturday after he had more than cast a spell.

After an emotional moment of applause for tragic teenage French player Medhi Narjissi, who was swept away to his death in South Africa during a recovery session last year with the country's under-18 squad, and hearty renditions of both national anthems, the two teams set about starting their Six Nations campaign with a bang.

The Stade de France was at its rocking best, and while the Welsh saw early ball, they were undone by a tremendous Thomas Ramos 50:22 that gave the hosts their first chance to attack. On three minutes, Dupont tried to blast his way in between the posts, with three Wales defenders required to hold him up. This was going to be a rough night for visitors, with back-row Aaron Wainwright required to leave the pitch due to blood gushing from his cheek.

The next phase of the contest was scrappy: messy scrums, knock-ons and broken play. What it had done, though, was take the energy out of the Stade de France. Wales had got to the ten-minute mark with the scoreboard empty, and Gatland would no doubt be the happier coach.

Dupont was seeing plenty of the ball but appeared on a different wavelength to some of his backs, kicking the ball out when attempting to go over the Welsh defence. Not one of his teammates read the move. The little No 9 shrugged quizzically at his peers. Where were you, lads?

No panic. France were getting closer, however, and laid siege to the Welsh tryline. Dupont tried another kick inside the 22 out wide towards Theo Attissogbe. This time, a connection. The 20-year-old met it plum on the touchline for the first try of the tournament on 18 minutes. Ramos added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

Buoyed by that opener, France set about landing a second. It came on 23 minutes, Louis Bielle-Biarrey crossing after Ramos set him free with a lovely two-handed pass after previous neat build-up from the French forwards. Ramos kicked the extras and already a healthy lead was developing.

Wales' plight continued when Owen Watkin got injured and Dan Edwards replaced the centre for his debut. Watkin was carried off in clear distress after a nasty collision in the tackle. Then hooker Evan Lloyd was pinged for a shoulder to the head of Bielle-Biarrey. A clear yellow card, and Wales had to see out the remaining eight minutes of the first half with 14 men. France could seal the deal here.

Correction: Dupont could seal the deal here. And he did, spotting a gap in the Wales defence, working through flailing tackles before offloading just before the tryline for Attissogbe to score his second of the night on 35 minutes. Ramos didn't miss the kick and France led 21-0.

Wales needed the break. Tom Rogers dived on a loose ball to stop another try. From the five-metre scrum, Romain Ntamack's dink to Attissogbe bounced unfavourably to deny the youngster a first-half hat-trick. The briefest of respite. Dupont's vision was on show bang on 40 minutes, picking out Bielle-Biarrey wide left for a simple try. Ramos converted. France 28-0 Wales at the interval.

The Welsh managed to arrest what could have been a serious slide in the second half, with the opening ten minutes largely uneventful. France had their bonus point all locked up and Wales weren't coming back. In an attempt to liven things up, the French made six subs on the 50-minute mark. Sadly, Dupont was taken off - his job more than done - but the spectacle was poorer for his withdrawal.

Try number five came on 55 minutes as one of those subs Julien Marchand crossed after a well-worked lineout drill. Surprisingly, Ramos botched the kick from a presentable position, a rare blot on the full-back’s copybook.

Ramos was also taken off on 67 minutes as France sashayed towards the finishing line. His replacement Emilien Gailleton marked his arrival with an unconverted try a minute later after a flowing move was lit up by Ntamack’s crossfield kick.

Ntamack’s night was ended on 71 minutes for a stupid shoulder charge on Edwards - a yellow upgraded by review to a red. It should have been a leveller of sorts as Gatland’s boys tried to avoid nil points, but the French clean sheet remained unsullied as Wales picked up another yellow on 77 minutes when Freddie Thomas was pinged for an accumulation of penalties. Gregory Alldritt put the tin lid on with an unconverted try for 43-0.

This was France telling the rest of the field that they mean business. When Scotland visit the Stade de France for the tournament’s conclusion on March 15, they will be up against it.