Dupont Scores as Eight-Try France Rout Fiji 54-17 to Reclaim Northern Hemisphere Lead

By the time Antoine Dupont crossed for his try in Lyon, the only question left was how many France would score. The captain's name on the scoresheet was the fitting seal on a ruthless afternoon, as an injury-hit French side ran in eight tries to crush Fiji 54-17 and climb back to the top of the Northern Hemisphere section of the Nations Championship. France did not so much beat Fiji as overwhelm them. Jean-Baptiste Gros, Sipili Falatea, Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, Kalvin Gourgues, Theo Attissogbe and Charles Ollivon all crossed alongside Dupont, with a penalty try completing the set, while Gourgues and Maxime Lucu added 12 points with the boot between them. It was the kind of performance that makes a statement without needing to say a word: wave after wave of blue shirts, each attack carrying a little more menace than the last, until Fiji's defence simply ran out of answers. To their credit, Fiji did not fold without a fight. Vinaya Habosi and Selestino Ravutaumada both scored tries, each converted by Ben Volavola, and Simione Kuruvoli added a penalty, but their moments came as brief interruptions in a match France controlled from start to finish. Every time the Pacific Islanders threatened to build something, the French defence swallowed it up and sent the ball back the other way with interest. The gulf on the scoreboard — 37 points — was an honest reflection of the gulf on the pitch. The one cloud over the afternoon was the sight of Romain Ntamack leaving the field injured during the first half. France were already short of bodies coming into this match, and losing their fly-half is the sort of blow that can linger long after the celebrations fade. With South Africa up next, the French medical staff will be working overtime this week, because Ntamack's calm direction is not easily replaced, even in a squad as deep as this one. The result itself, though, could hardly have been better for France's campaign. The win takes them to 17 points, two clear of Ireland at the top of the Northern Hemisphere section, with the inaugural Nations Championship now moving towards its decisive rounds. France have made a habit of winning ugly in this tournament; on Saturday in Lyon, they won beautifully, and that will worry every team still in their path. For Fiji, the picture is far bleaker. They remain bottom of the Southern Hemisphere section without a single point, still searching for their first tournament victory after four matches, and next week they head to Ireland, where little mercy awaits. Their attacking talent is obvious — Habosi and Ravutaumada showed that again — but talent alone is not enough at this level, and the scorelines are starting to tell a hard story. France, meanwhile, march on towards South Africa with their lead restored, their captain scoring, and their title ambitions very much alive.