By SABC Sport
10th November 2024
The hosts scored eight tries through Louis Bielle-Biarrey (two), Emilien Gailleton, Alexandre Roumat, Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros and a double from Paul Boudehent. Fly-half Thomas Ramos added six conversions from the tee.
Japan could only manage two tries via Harumichi Tatekawa and Tevita Tatafu with Naoto Saito kicking a conversion.
The hosts shot out of the blocks with Bielle-Biarrey the first to score a try after just three minutes. Ramos did not get the kick on this occasion.
The full-back turned fly-half would not make that mistake again as he had the chance to convert Gailleton's try which came six minutes later after a lovely cross-kick.
Momentum was well and truly with France despite a few flashy moments from Jones' Japan. Les Bleus scored a converted try through Roumat after 18 minutes before Mauvaka rounded out the scoring in the first half with his try in the 33rd minute.
The second period followed the first with Gros scoring after a minute. However, this time Japan would strike back with their first crossing as Tatekawa scored a converted try in the 49th minute.
As expected France responded a minute later as Boudehent scored two tries, one either side of Japan's final Tatafu score on the hour mark.