The China Mail - France prop Gros happy to go 'under radar' for Dupont's benefit

However, without the unglamorous work from the likes of prop Jean-Baptiste Gros, Sevens Olympic gold medallist Dupont will find it hard to shine at Twickenham, where France have tasted victory only once since 2007.

Gros is likely to start this weekend's second round game as the joint tournament favourites aim to continue their march to the title.

"It doesn't bother me to go under the radar," Gros told AFP on Monday.

"I play this sport to have fun and enjoy myself. Everything that comes with playing rugby, putting yourself in the limelight, it's a bit based on my temperament, my character, being quite discreet and reserved.

"If we have clean running lines, quick ball, it's easier for them, the backs, namely Antoine," the 25-year-old added.

France opened their Six Nations campaign by hammering a sorry Wales 43-0 last Friday as Gros made his 33rd international appearance.

He has suffered various injuries since sustaining a forearm fracture in October 2022.

The Toulon front-rower started a Test for just the 14th time last week, benefitting from Cyril Baille's lack of game time.

Gros has often played second fiddle to Baille, coming off the bench for all five games in 2022's Six Nations Grand Slam success.

He started November's three Tests in Baille's absence and was a key but unassuming part of the victory over New Zealand.

Toulouse's Baille is considered one of the world's leading loose-head props due to his off-loading ability while Gros' strengths are with less subtler carries and consistent set-piece displays.

"We're not the same style of players," Gros said of Baille.

"We play the same position but we play totally differently. We complement each other. I think it’s good for the coaches.

"We try and support each other. We send each other messages, it's cool," he added wearing his thin-framed rounded spectacles.

- 'Intensity' -

Gros grew up on the banks of the Rhone river in the town of Tarascon, between Marseille and Montpellier, before heading east along the Mediterranean coast to join Toulon's academy as a teenager.

He won two under-20s World Championships before breaking through into the first team at Toulon.

Toulon are no longer the 'galacticos' of Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau, winning three straight European Cups, but the passion in the sun-kissed port city for their rugby team remains.

"The atmosphere around the city, the club has represented something for me since I was young," Gros said,

"There are very few clubs I see myself playing for.

"The club, for me, has something special.

"It can be hard sometimes, you have to be made of strong stuff.

"To give everything for the club, the city, I think it’s really cool," he added.

This weekend, France return to Twickenham for the first time since inflicting a record home defeat (53-10) on England in their 2023 Six Nations meeting, which Gros missed due to the forearm issue.

Steve Borthwick's England started their campaign with an impressive first half against two-time champions Ireland last Saturday, before wilting in the final 40 minutes.

"Against England we're expecting more intensity, a level above Wales," Gros said.

"We saw their match against Ireland, it was quite impressive.

"They're going to raise the bar even higher against us, we’re expecting that and we have to raise our bar even higher too," he added.

R.Yeung--ThChM