Any hopes - however slim - that French halfback Antoine Dupont would face the All Blacks here in July - are now over

Dupont was helped off the pitch in France's 42-27 Six Nations win over Ireland in Dublin after Ireland lock Tadhg Beirne fell on his leg, causing it to buckle.

Planet Rugby reports that team doctors believe Dupont has suffered an ACL rupture although will need an MRI scan to confirm.

Dupont was already highly unlikely to travel for the mid-year series against the All Blacks given France have signalled their intent to send a weakened team but is now likely to need six to eight months recovery time.

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