Acting Leicester head coach Richard Cockerill reckons Julien Dupuy should be playing for France.
Acting Tigers boss reckons scrum-half should be in French side
Julien Dupuy's performance in Leicester's 24-10 Guinness Premiership victory against leaders Gloucester was such that he should be playing for France, according to acting Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill.
The scrum-half, who joined from Biarritz last summer, capped an outstanding display by kicking seven penalties in a comfortable win for the Tigers.
"The French are looking for a scrum-half and Julien should be in the French team," said former England hooker Cockerill.
"He was outstanding today, he's been the signing of the season in the Premiership and he should be in the French side."
Despite Leicester failing to score a try during the match, Cockerill was happy with their performance.
"I thought the performance was fantastic, in fact I thought it was our best performance in the past month," he added.
"The way we attacked the game and the way we played and the opportunities we created were really good.
"We didn't finish any but I thought the endeavour and our attitude were first class. I thought we were the only team to play the rugby to be fair.
"We had a lot of ball, we tapped some penalties and put them under pressure. I thought they were lucky not to have more guys in the bin by half-time.
"They were lying around the ball and trying to slow it down and every time we got into their 22 it was a penalty wasn't it?
"I thought the mentality of the players was first-rate. It reminded me of Welford Road how it should be and the fortress we have had in previous years."
Undisciplined
Dupuy exploited an undisciplined display from the Cherry and Whites, which included the sin-binning of scrum-half Rory Lawson and lock Alex Brown.
The home side's other points came when full-back Geordan Murphy scored a spectacular late drop goal from inside his own half.
Iain Balshaw scored an interception try for Gloucester in the first-half, converted by Olly Barkley who also kicked a penalty.
Gloucester's director of rugby Dean Ryan praised the defensive resolve of his injury-depleted side under pressure.
"This side is growing into a very strong and determined one in defence and with some physical capability," he said.
"We are a bit down on strike-power but two young lads, Charlie Sharples and Henry Trinder, covered themselves in credit in what was the top level clash during the Six Nations.
"Results don't always go in your favour, the yellow cards compounded the problem for us. But in the circumstances, I'm really pleased with how this side is showing itself when it gets the chances.
"I'm pretty happy. I have said to the players that if they turn up like that every week they are a good side. We will play better than that, we will get a bit more rub of the green, but we have got to turn up like that every week and we have done for the last five weeks."
