Francestormed again to the highest of the northern hemisphere Nations Championship desk with a dominant however flawed 54-17 victory overFijion Saturday.
Victory got here at a price, with fly-half Romain Ntamack, aligned alongside captainAntoine Dupontat half-back for the primary time since March 2025, seemingly dislocating his shoulder within the construct as much as France’s third strive.
With Matthieu Jalibert already out injured, France will face world championsSouth Africanext week with out both of their finest fly-halves.
And they might want to put in a vastly improved exhibiting to face any probability of avoiding a tenth defeat of their final 11 clashes with the Springboks.
Props Jean-Baptiste Gros and Sipili Falatea, winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, centre Kalvin Gourgues, full-back Theo Attissogbe, substitute ahead Charles Ollivon and Dupont crossed the whitewash, with a penalty strive making it eight scores for the hosts.
They are two factors forward ofIrelandin the standings forward ofEngland’s conflict withAustraliaon Sunday.
Fiji, who began the match in Lyon with 10 France-based gamers, together with their whole backline, have been usually bodily however slumped to a fourth straight defeat within the inaugural Nations Championship.
Their much-vaunted backs struggled to fireside, though centre Vinaya Habosi beat 4 defenders to attain and Selestino Ravutaumada added a second comfort strive.
ThePrime 14’s most prolific finisher, Jiuta Wainiqolo, who was enjoying in his adopted residence, was unable to make an influence, although.
Neither did France’s personal wing wizard, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, though he did arrange one strive.
Visibly in ache
Fiji confirmed early ambition, turning down a straight-forward three factors to kick to the touch, however France stole the line-out.
After a breathless and error-strewn begin to the sport, Gros burrowed over for the opening strive on quarter-hour, solely his second for France.
That modified the complexion of the sport, with France steadily beginning to purr.
A penalty strive quickly adopted, with Mesake Vocevoce despatched to the sin-bin for collapsing a maul, after which Falatea burst via tacklers to attain.
In the part earlier than Falatea’s rating, Ntamack injured his shoulder as he stretched for the road.
The Toulouse playmaker left the sector visibly in ache.
Grandidier-Nkanang secured the attacking bonus level earlier than half-time after Vilimoni Botitu, a late change to the Fiji beginning XV as Isikeli Rabitu was reportedly sick, spilled the ball in his 22.
The hosts led 26-3 on the break, with Simione Kuruvoli’s penalty Fiji’s solely reward.
France, although, have been error-prone within the second half and struggled to show their dominance into factors.
It took them 19 minutes so as to add to their tally, with Gourgues going over within the nook on his first begin forLes Bleus.
That appeared to open the floodgates as Bielle-Biarrey despatched Attissogbe away for France’s sixth strive.
But Habosi struck subsequent out of the blue earlier than Ollivon barged over from shut vary.
Ravutaumada added a breakaway rating however Dupont had the ultimate phrase.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Originally revealed on France24