Dupuy: I'm no lightweight

Julien Dupuy gets a chance in Sunday's Six Nations clash with old rivals England to prove that the impression he is a lightweight is baseless.

The 28-year-old Stade Francais scrumhalf, who will win his eighth cap in his first start since November 2009, has been handed his chance along with Toulouse flyhalf Lionel Beauxis by coach Philippe Saint-Andre.

The former Stade Francais half-back partnership - team-mates from 2009-11 - have been drafted in after ineffective performances by Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh Duc in the 17-17 draw with Ireland last Sunday ended French hopes of the Grand Slam.

However, Dupuy brings with him a lot of baggage.

Apart from being regarded by many as being too laid-back he also is making up for lost time after a 23-week ban in December 2009 for gouging Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris in a European Cup match put a stop to his burgeoning international career.

This came after he had been part of two of the best victories during the reign of Marc Lievremont, a 27-22 victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand and then a 20-13 win in Toulouse over then world champions South Africa, both in 2009.

The fact that the Ferris incident still comes up grates with the slightly-built Dupuy.

"Honestly it really annoys me that I am still asked about it three years after it happened," bristled Dupuy.

"It is in the past, it is something I should not have done, but I still think it was too heavy a punishment. Full stop."

Dupuy, who had a successful spell with English giants Leicester, winning the Premiership title in 2009 as well as reaching the same season's European Cup final, didn't appreciate Lievremont's description of him as being too carefree.

"That annoyed me at the time," said Dupuy, who began his professional career alternating with Dimitri Yachvili at Biarritz which brought two French titles (2005/06) and another European Cup final in 2006.

"There is a difference between being not stressed and being nonchalant. When someone says that I am a wanker, that I don't care about anything, that is simply not true.

"I don't show it but that is not to say I am not thinking and that I am not taking in what is going on in terms of strategy during the match."

Beauxis, who ended the 2007 World Cup as the first choice flyhalf, for his part has never ruffled feathers in the manner of Dupuy.

In fact the opposite can be said of the 26-year-old, that he has been too introverted on the pitch.

Indeed this characteristic earned himself the nickname of 'Bernardo', the mute sidekick of action hero Zorro clearly not to the taste of the former Under-20 world champion.

"From the moment this name became associated with me I have hated it," said Beauxis, who will win his 19th cap on Sunday.

"It has in fact motivated me more to shed this image. I have worked on myself. Since Stade Francais, I have made genuine efforts.

"Even if I still have work to do I find that a more extrovert side is coming more naturally to me."

Dupuy is one who believes that is the case.

"You sense he has matured since his departure for Toulouse. He knows how to take things in hand and says what he has to say."

AFP