Star halfback Antoine Dupont celebrated his return as captain and his scoring touch was not even needed as eight-try France routed Japan 52-12 this morning in Paris.
France will play the All Blacks in Paris next weekend.
Les Tricolores crushed the Brave Blossoms at Stade de France, with left winger Louis Bielle-Biarre scoring two tries in a totally one-sided first half and replacement flanker Paul Boudehent grabbing two in the second half.
Dupont came back to XVs in the stadium where he inspired France to a gold medal in sevens at the Paris Olympics. But it was also where he experienced heartbreak as France agonisingly lost by one point to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals one year ago.
After Bielle-Biarrey's unconverted opener, Dupont passed exquisitely out the back of his hand on a counterruck to No 8 Grégory Alldritt.
He fed No 10 Thomas Ramos and his kick to the left corner was grabbed by centre Émilien Gailleton for a converted try and 12-0.
France was on its way to five tries before the break, with flanker Alexandre Roumat celebrating his first international try after collecting Bielle-Biarrey’s pass.
Bielle-Biarrey dived into the left corner for his second followed by prolific hooker Peato Mauvaka crashing over in the right corner for his 10th international try.
The French were in no mood to relent, and prop Jean-Baptiste Gros helped himself to the team's sixth try early in the second half, converted by Ramos to leave Japan facing a chilling 38-0 deficit with ages left to play.
After a Dupont try was ruled out by a knock-on by right winger Théo Attissogbe, the visitors finally got on the scoreboard when Harumichi Tatekawa crossed for a converted try.
Japan grabbed another through Tevita Tatafu when he intercepted Matthieu Jalibert's sloppy pass and charged into the left corner, despite Bielle-Biarrey's last-gasp tackle.
France play the All Blacks at 8.10am next Sunday
Source: Stuff.co
