France crushes Japan with eight-try victory in Autumn Series

France 52-12 Japan, Stade de France

France delivered a commanding 52-12 victory over Japan in their Autumn Series clash at the Stade de France, showcasing a powerful performance in front of home fans.

Returning to the Stade after last year’s World Cup, Fabien Galthie’s side exhibited high-energy rugby and tactical precision, scoring eight tries to set the stage for their upcoming encounter with New Zealand.

Man of the match Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Paul Boudehent both crossed the line twice, supported by tries from Emilien Gailleton, Alexandre Roumat, Peato Mauvaka, and Jean-Baptiste Gros. Thomas Ramos converted six of the eight tries, propelling France to its largest margin of victory against Japan in an official Test.

Japan, reeling under a string of losses since Eddie Jones’s return as head coach, was unable to contain France’s relentless attack. Trailing 31-0 at halftime, Japan’s two second-half tries by Harumichi Tatekawa and Tevita Tatafu were not enough to challenge the hosts.

This match marked the return of Antoine Dupont to the French lineup.

The star scrumhalf, who had taken time off to prepare with France’s Rugby Sevens team for the Paris Olympics, quickly made his presence felt with sharp passes and strategic plays, directing France’s attack throughout the game.

With a bitter memory of their 29-28 World Cup quarter-final loss to South Africa still fresh, France showed fans that they are back in form and eager for redemption.

On a brisk evening in Paris, the French team quickly set the tone. Bielle-Biarrey opened the scoring after outpacing Japan’s Malo Tuitama to chase down his own kick. Gailleton followed up shortly after with another try, capitalizing on Ramos’s pinpoint cross-kick.

France continued to pile on the points as another low kick from Bielle-Biarrey troubled Japan’s defense, allowing Roumat to touch down. By this point, Japan had little response to the constant French pressure. A combination of Dupont’s precise kicks and sharp ball handling enabled Bielle-Biarrey to cross over for his second try.

France's fifth try came from Mauvaka on the right flank, further cementing France’s lead. With Dupont orchestrating the French attack, Japan struggled to contain the fast-paced, dynamic plays that seemed to unfold effortlessly.

France wasted no time after halftime, with Gros pushing through Japan’s defenses just two minutes into the second half. Japan managed to claw back some points through Tatekawa, scoring after a rare cohesive attacking sequence.

Dupont’s power and agility were once again on display, setting up Boudehent for a seventh French try. The closing stages of the match saw several tactical substitutions by Galthie, including Ramos’s move from flyhalf to fullback, allowing Matthieu Jalibert to step in at flyhalf. This disruption enabled Japan to counter-attack and score their second try through Tatafu.

France, however, quickly regrouped and Boudehent bundled over for his second try, finalizing the score at 52-12. The dominant win gave France a significant confidence boost as they prepare to face the All Blacks next week.