France get record win against Namibia but worry over Dupont injury

Damian Penaud scores France’s fourth try in their Rugby World Cup pool A win against Namibia at Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Thursday night.

Image: Reuters/Peter Cziborra

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.

France now anxiously wait to see what damage might have been done to Dupont, and their World Cup chances.

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.

Damian Penaud (three), 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.

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