Injured France captain Fabien Pelous has praised his side's performances in their first two matches of the Six Nations in Rome, and then Dublin, where Les Bleus  snatched a last minute victory against Ireland.

The Toulouse lock has been out of action since sustaining an ankle injury in a Heineken Cup match against Llanelli Scarlets on December 16th.

He was initially expected to return by the start of the Six Nations, but delays in his recovery meant he was ruled out of the first two games of the tournament.

In his absence France have won by 39-3 in Italy and beaten Ireland 20-17 in Croke Park, thanks to a try at the death from Vincent Clerc.

Pelous has been impressed with the displays of Les Bleus so far, and claims that he never feared the team would lose.

"The first two matches have been well mastered by us," he said. "We have succeeded in defending well, away from home.

"I never felt the team was really in danger."

The 33-year-old, who needs two more caps to eclipse Philippe Sella's record of 111 appearances for France, does not even know if he will be back in time for this campaign.

"I know nothing," he said, when asked if he would be making an appearance in the Six Nations.  "I really hope so, but I have not given myself a target date so as not to disappoint myself.

"I am on the same programme as the others, but only until they go running. Then I go on the bike, do weights, go swimming. But I mustn't run."

Pelous admitted his ankle injury was worse than he first thought, and felt his comeback date was a little optimistic.

"I thought I would be able to tend to it in a month and a half, but that was a little too advanced," he said. "It is a very big sprain, and I am just waiting. I can't run because that inflames my posterior muscle in my leg. The ankle is unstable and sets off an inflammatory shoot of pain."

The skipper is trying to remain upbeat, and insists suffering injuries comes with the territory for high-level sportsmen.

"There is frustration, of course," he conceded. "But I am trying to stay calm.

"I don't feel old. There are players who are 25, who have arthritis and tendinitis. That isn't the case for me. I am not 60, but 33."