France showcased an impressive performance in rugby on Saturday, dominating Japan with a resounding 52-12 victory at Stade de France. This match marked their return to the stadium following last year’s World Cup, signaling their preparation for an upcoming clash with New Zealand.
In a standout display, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Paul Boudehent each scored two tries, while Emilien Gailleton, Alexandre Roumat, Peato Mauvaka, and Jean-Baptiste Gros contributed to the try tally. Thomas Ramos successfully converted six of these tries, resulting in France’s most significant win against Japan in an official test match.
Despite being 31 points behind at halftime, Japan managed to score two tries in the second half through Harumichi Tatekawa and Tevita Tatafu, with Naoto Saito converting one of them. The loss marked Japan’s sixth in a row since Eddie Jones resumed as coach at the end of last year, suggesting they have a challenging road ahead to reach elite status in international rugby.
The French squad welcomed back scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, who had been absent for the Six Nations as he focused on preparing for the Paris Olympics with the Rugby Sevens team. The return of Dupont added to the excitement in the stadium, as fans were thrilled to see him lead the team back to winning ways after their previous World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa.
Throughout the match, France demonstrated offensive prowess and defensive strength, compelling Japan’s coach Eddie Jones to recognize the long road ahead in his ambitions to elevate Japan’s standing in global rugby. France’s relentless attacking strategy left Japan struggling to keep up, illustrating the significant gap in experience and skill that exists between the two teams.
While Japan faced challenges in the match, there remains hope for their development under Jones as they regroup and work on improving their performance. The journey to becoming a top-tier side may be tough, but with resilience and determination, progress can be made.
France’s emphatic win not only sets a positive tone for their upcoming match against New Zealand but also highlights their growth as a team and their readiness to compete at the highest levels in international rugby.
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