France captain Dupont delights in Japan rout ahead of All Blacks showdown

FRANCE 24

9 November 2024 at 5:27 pm·1-min read

Antoine Dupont was making his 53rd Test appearance.

Olympic rugby sevens gold medallist Antoine Dupont set up two tries as France eased past Japan 52-12 in Paris on Saturday.

Star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont made a triumphant return as captain, though his scoring skills weren’t needed, as eight-try France dominated Japan with a 52-12 victory on Saturday

Dupont's contributions came on his first 15-a-side Test appearance since last October having prioritised the shorter form of the sport since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Les Bleus' eight tries included doubles for winger and player-of-the-match Louis Bielle-Biarrey and flanker Paul Boudehent.

"I had been waiting for it for a few weeks," Dupont told TF1.

"We all were hungry, we wanted to play a bit."

"It's great to be back at the Stade de France with a crowd like that, I can't wait for next week," he said of the upcoming showdown with New Zealand.

Eddie Jones' sorry visitors lost a sixth game from nine outings this year in his second stint at the helm, having trailed 31-0 at the break.

"First half, physically we didn't cope with France, they blew us off the park," Jones told TNT Sports.

"You just have to take your lessons and sometimes they're hard lessons," the veteran Australian added.

By the half-hour mark the hosts were in control and 26-0 up against a lacklustre Japan.

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