France swamp Japan after early scare
France 51, Japan 29 FT
Aurelien Rougerie claimed two tries as France swamped World Cup minnows Japan in emphatic style in their World Cup Pool B encounter at the Dairy Farmers stadium.
The powerful winger bagged his brace in fine style to complement tries from Frederic Michalak, Fabien Pelous, Christian Dominici and Jean-Jaques Crenca as France upped the tempo in the second half.
George Konia’s try and the boot of Toru Kurihara had put Japan on course for an upset – they had moved to within a point for the European giants early in the second half – but they could make no further impression despite Daisuke Ohata’s 70th minute try.
Michalak booted another three points and then Rougerie showed his strength by cannoning through three tackles to burst through and inevitably Michalak added the extras.
But Japan were not done yet and they showed considerable flair to cross for a second time, left winger Hirotoki Onozawa making the initial inroads before the ball was fed right to Daisuke Ohata who finished neatly
Kurihara bagged the conversion and then improved a try from substitute Jean-Jaques Crenca who barged his way over as Japan’s defence feel to pieces in the last moments.
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