| France: (54) 96 |
| Tries: Penaud 3, Danty 2, Ollivon 2, Flament, Dupont, Bielle-Biarry 2, Couilloud, Jaminet, Penalty Con: Ramos 12 |
| Namibia (0) 0 |
France are on the point of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals after claiming their biggest-ever win with a 96-0 victory over Namibia in Pool A.
Damian Penaud scored a hat-trick, whereas Jonathan Danty, Charles Ollivon and Louis Bielle-Biarry all scored twice.
Antoine Dupont, Thibaud Flament, Baptiste Couilloud and Melvyn Jaminet additionally crossed earlier than a penalty attempt took their complete tally to 14 in Marseille.
The one French trigger for concern was the lack of Dupont to harm.
The hosts’ captain was withdrawn in the course of the second half following a head-on-head sort out by Johan Deysel, whose yellow card was upgraded to a purple by the bunker-review system.
France head coach Fabien Galthie’s determination to maintain his talisman on the sector regardless of his aspect’s enormous 54-point half-time benefit might be scrutinised if Dupont’s harm retains him on the sidelines with the knockout levels looming.
Les Blues, who’re high of Pool A with three wins from their opening three video games, surpassed their earlier greatest profitable margin of 87-10 towards Namibia of their final residence World Cup in 2007 and can face Italy of their subsequent fixture on 6 October in Lyon.
Namibia are rooted to the underside of the desk after struggling three heavy defeats, and face a closing pool recreation towards Uruguay on 27 September.
Ruthless France peaking on the proper time
A much-changed France aspect overcame Uruguay with out overly exerting themselves of their final recreation, however the Namibians felt the complete power of their wrath right here.
Heavyweights Dupont, Penaud and Flament had been again within the aspect and so they had been rapidly into their stride at Stade Velodrome.
Dupont confirmed all of his class to fireside a cross-field kick together with his proper boot for the prolific Penaud to increase his try-scoring run to 6 consecutive Checks.
Centre Danty marked his return to the aspect after harm with the second following some neat work from Bielle-Biarry near the touchline earlier than Ollivon rounded off a flowing workforce transfer.
Penaud added his second moments later with an inside cross from a line-out transfer off the coaching area, earlier than Danty doubled his personal tally with a strong end from shut vary.
Easy run-ins for Flament and Dupont adopted earlier than the diminutive scrum-half turned supplier with a superbly weighted clip off his left boot for Bielle-Biarry to attain with out breaking stride.
That attempt handed France a 54-point lead and their greatest ever half-time benefit, however they had been removed from completed.
Dupont made approach holding his face however it might not have an effect on the result on the evening as his substitute Couilloud crossed unopposed within the nook.
Penaud secured his hat-trick in the identical nook earlier than Namibia, who had been toothless in assault, intercepted a unfastened French cross and threatened to attain their opening attempt, however Jaminet coated the kick via as France recycled the ball and Bielle-Biarry ran it straight again with curiosity.
An Ollivon dummy for attempt quantity 12 was adopted by a neat backs’ transfer for Jaminet to complete off earlier than a closing penalty attempt ended the rout.
France are among the many favourites to elevate the Webb Ellis Cup subsequent month and can face harder challenges than the one posed by Namibia, however their ruthless assault despatched an actual message to the remainder of the runners and riders.
‘The tries are anecdotal’ – what they stated
France head coach Fabien Galthie stated: “I will keep in mind the win and the stadium. You have to congratulate the Marseille crowd for the unbelievable environment. The factors scored, zero factors conceded. It was a critical match.”
France wing and participant of the match Damian Penaud stated: “The tries are anecdotal. We’ll keep in mind right now’s victory.
“We performed nicely collectively, we stored going for 80 minutes, we loved ourselves and we’re pleased with the individuals who got here to see us. I feel that is crucial factor.
“It is the work we have been doing for the previous 4 years. We had been decided to play nicely collectively, to play nicely as a workforce, one thing we weren’t in a position to do within the final two video games.
“Now we have discovered a little bit of cohesion on the pitch, it bodes nicely for the longer term.”
Line-ups
France: Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Bielle-Biarry; Jalibert, Dupont; Baille, Mauvaka, Atonio; Woki, Flament; Cros, Ollivon, Jelonch.
Replacements: Bourgarit, Wardi, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Boudehent, Couilloud, Moefana, Jaminet.
Namibia: Van der Bergh; Mouton, Deysel, Burger, Greyling; Loubser, Theron; Sethie, Van der Westhuizen, Coetzee, Tjeriko, Ludick, Katjijeko, Retief, Gaoseb.
Replacements: Nortje, Benade, Shifuka, Van Lill, Hardwick, Blaauw, Izaacs, Rossouw.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
