France powered past Japan 42-15 in Tokyo on Saturday, running in six tries in a messy but high-scoring test at the National Stadium. The visitors made the most of Japan’s loose display to finish well clear on the scoreboard.
Hooker Maxime Lamothe and fullback Matthieu Jalibert both scored twice for Les Bleus, leading the way in a match that produced plenty of points even if the overall performance was far from polished. France’s finishing proved the key difference as Japan struggled to match their visitors across the full contest.
The result gave France a strong end to the opening leg of a new international competition, with the team showing enough attacking edge to punish repeated errors. While the game was described as scrappy, France still found enough rhythm to build a commanding advantage.
For Japan, the defeat highlighted a ragged defensive effort against a side that took its chances well. France, meanwhile, left Tokyo with a convincing win and six tries to show for it.
