Japan crushed by France as Antoine Dupont returns

PARIS (AP) — Star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont celebrated his return as captain and his scoring touch wasn’t even needed as France beat Japan 52-12 on Saturday.

Les Tricolores crushed the Brave Blossoms at Stade de France, with left winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey scoring two tries in a totally one-sided first half and substitute winger Paul Boudehent grabbing two in the second half.

Dupont returned to XVs at the stadium where he inspired France to a gold medal in sevens at the Paris Olympics. But it was also the place where he experienced heartbreak when France lost agonizingly by one point to South Africa in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup a year ago.

“It’s so nice to reunite with the French team and the French fans,” said Dupont. “We were all hungry and wanted to play well. We were a little sloppy at times, which meant we weren’t efficient throughout the game.”

But Eddie Jones’ Japan offered little resistance and was especially visible around the caterpillars.

After Bielle-Biarrey’s unconverted opener, Dupont lunged superbly with the back of his hand on a counter ruck from No. 8 Grégory Alldritt. He fed flyhalf Thomas Ramos and his kick to the left corner was grabbed by center Émilien Gailleton for a converted try and 12–0.

France were on their way to five tries before half-time, 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 into the right corner for his 10th international try.

The French were in no mood to concede, and prop Jean-Baptiste Gros helped himself to the team’s sixth try early in the second half, converted by Ramos to leave Japan a chilling 38-0 down with centuries to spare to play.

After a Dupont try was disallowed by a knock-on from right winger Théo Attissogbe, the visitors finally got on the scoreboard when Harumichi Tatekawa crossed for a converted try.

Japan grabbed another goal through Tevita Tatafu as he intercepted Matthieu Jalibert’s sloppy pass and stormed into the left corner despite Bielle-Biarrey’s final tackle.

On either side of this, Boudehent dug in twice.

France remain at Stade de France next Saturday and take on New Zealand.

“We have to be a little more serious in certain phases of the game because next week a huge challenge awaits us,” Bielle-Biarrey said.

Less than two hours before kick-off, the French Rugby Federation announced that star winger Damian Penaud – France’s record scorer with 36 tries – had been ruled out and that Attissogbe replaced him on the right wing. No reason was given for Penaud’s absence. ___