Damian Penaud scored a hat-trick as sensational France ran riot against Namibia in a 96-0 win at the Rugby World Cup, but that could be overshadowed by an injury to Antoine Dupont.
Les Blues hit the ground running when Penaud caught a Dupont kick to score after seven minutes and did not let up as Jonathan Danty grabbed the second and Charles Ollivon the third after a brilliant handling move down the right wing. Penaud and Danty each got their second before Thibaud Flament, Dupont and Louis Bielle-Biarrey made it eight in the first half for a 54-0 lead.
Divan Rossouw crossed the line for Namibia with an interception early in the second half but it was ruled out for a high hit on Dupont, which earned Johan Deysel a red card and forced the France captain off the field worryingly holding his jaw. Against 14 tiring men for 35 minutes France scored further tries through Baptiste Couilloud, Penaud’s hat-trick, Bielle-Biarrey and Ollivon’s second. Melvyn Jaminet got himself involved too before a late penalty try was awarded to the hosts, and with Thomas Ramos landing 12 of his 13 conversions, they overhauled their previous record win.
