Magnificent France have romped to their biggest victory, running in 14 tries, including a hattrick of tries for Damian Penaud, to crush Namibia 96-0 at a raucous Marseille Velodrome to keep their World Cup adventure rolling on.
France hit the ground running, when Penaud caught an Antoine Dupont kick to score after seven minutes, and did not let up, as Jonathan Danty grabbed the second and Charles Ollivon the third, after a brilliant handling move down the right wing.
Penaud and Danty each got their second, before Thibaud Flament, Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey made it eight in the first half for a 54-0 lead.
Divan Rossouw crossed the line for Namibia with an interception early in the second half, but it was ruled out for a high hit on Dupont, which earned Johan Deysel a red card and forced the France captain off the field, worryingly holding his jaw.
Against 14 tiring men for 35 minutes, France scored further tries through Baptiste Couilloud, Penaud's hat-trick, Bielle-Biarrey and Ollivon's second each, Melvyn Jaminet and a penalty try. With Thomas Ramos landing 12 of his 13 conversions, they overhauled their previous record win, also against Namibia, 87-10 in the 2007 World Cup at Toulouse.
Despite topping the pool on 13 points after three wins, France are not yet guaranteed a quarter-final slot, as New Zealand and Italy, whom they face in their final fixture in two weeks, could still both overhaul them.
France 96 (Penaud 3, Danty 2, Ollivon 2, Flament, Dupont, Bielle-Biarrey 2, Couilloud, Jaminet, penalty try tries; Ramos 12 conversions) Namibia 0
Reuters
