By Nick Said
Marseille: France dazzled as they ran in 14 tries for their biggest ever victory in Tests with a 96-0 hammering of Namibia but it may have come at some cost to their Rugby World Cup campaign after captain Antoine Dupont was forced off early in the second half.
Dupont left the stadium for a medical assessment after a reckless tackle from Namibia skipper Johan Deysel resulted in a cheekbone injury and a red card for the latter.
Antoine Dupont copped a knock shortly after half-time in Marseille and was forced from the field.Credit: Getty
France now anxiously wait to see what damage might have been done to Dupont … and their World Cup chances. Coach Fabien Galthie said soon after the match he had suffered a ‘possible crack or fracture’ to his jaw.
The match was a one-sided contest as expected. Namibia were woefully outgunned and came up against a home side willing to run the ball from all parts and in a party mood.
That was set by a raucous 63,486 home crowd at the Stade de Marseille, who were relishing the novelty of seeing the World Cup hosts in action as France take their pool games around the country, on this occasion to the south coast.
Penaud, Louis Bielle-Biarrey (two), Jonathan Danty (two), Charles Ollivon (two), Thibaud Flament, Dupont, Baptiste Couilloud and Melvyn Jaminet all crossed the line for the home side to go with a penalty try.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey runs in one of France’s 14 tries in front of a raucous Marseille crowd.Credit: AP
The scoreline beat their previous biggest victory in Tests, an 87-10 hammering of Namibia at the 2007 World Cup, and is France’s 17th win in a row on home soil, which equals their longest unbeaten run in front of their own fans set between 2001 and 2004.
Thomas Ramos broke the French record for conversions in a single test with 12, while the 14 tries is also a team record on a night for new milestones.
It took them six minutes to get on the scoreboard as winger Penaud crossed for the first of his three on the night, and that opened the floodgates as France crossed eight times in the first half alone.
Dupont was running the show from halfback and at his mercurial best, with a beautiful kick assist for wing Bielle-Biarrey to score as France led 54-0 at half-time.
Namibia thought they had the first score of the second half when Divan Rossouw ran in unopposed after an intercept, but it was disallowed after Deysel had clattered headfirst into the cheekbone of Dupont and was given a yellow card, quickly upgraded to a red on bunker review.
It took the gloss off a near perfect night for the French, who showed all their skill, flair and swagger, but might have lost their chief creator as they seek a first World Cup title.
Teams have cracked the 100-point mark just five times in World Cup history, with New Zealand accounting for three of those. The most recent came in 2007 when the All Blacks beat Portugal 108-13, while Australia’s 142-0 win over Namibia on home soil two decades ago remains a tournament record.
Reuters
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