PARIS (AP) — Superstar scrumhalf Antoine Dupont set up three tries as France overwhelmed Wales 43-0 in an impressive Six Nations opener on Friday. France shrugged off a slow start at Stade de France before inflicting a 13th straight defeat on Wales, a dismal national record which includes every single test last year.

Antoine Dupont lived up to expectations as the mercurial halfback made his Six Nations comeback in style to lead France to a 43-0 crushing of Wales in this year's curtain riser.

Dupont, who skipped last year's tournament to prepare for the Rugby Sevens tournament at the Paris Olympics, which France won, delivered a hat-trick of assists as Les Bleus handed their opponents their 13th consecutive Test defeat on a bruising opening night.

Fabien Galthie's in-form France start this year's Six Nations by hosting struggling Wales on Friday with the head coach fully aware of the challenge of winning the title.

Antoine Dupont lived up to expectations as the mercurial scrumhalf made his Six Nations comeback in style to lead France to a 43-0 crushing of Wales in this year's opening match of the tournament.

The 2025 Six Nations kicks off at the Stade de France with an intriguing opening fixture between pretournament favorites France and out-of-form Wales. The French have inspirational captain Antoine Dupont back among the ranks and will be aiming to build on their autumn international wins over New Zealand and Australia.

As Wales prepare to kick off the 2025 Six Nations away to France, Warren Gatland will hope for an unlikley repeat of 2019 Welsh heroics in Paris.

Six Nations kicks off at the Stade de France as one of the tournament favourites, France, host a battered Wales outfit in the Championship opener. Wales are enduring a 12-match losing streak in international rugby after going winless in 2024 and face the almighty task of fronting up against a French side that will be frothing at the mouth not to just win the opening game but the entire tournament.