Nations Championship: France return to top of Northern Hemisphere table with win over Fiji
France stormed back to the top of the Northern Hemisphere Nations Championship table with a dominant but flawed 54-17 victory over Fiji today (NZT).
Victory came at a cost, with first five-eighths Romain Ntamack, aligned alongside captain Antoine Dupont at halfback for the first time since March 2025, seemingly dislocating his shoulder in the build-up to France’s third try.
With Mathieu Jalibert already out injured, France will face world champions South Africa next week without either of their best No 10s.
And they will need to put in a vastly improved showing to stand any chance of avoiding a 10th defeat in their last 11 clashes with the Springboks.
Props Jean-Baptiste Gros and Sipili Falatea, winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, centre Kalvin Gourgues, fullback Theo Attissogbe, replacement forward Charles Ollivon and Dupont crossed the whitewash, with a penalty try making it eight scores for the hosts.
They are two points ahead of Ireland in the standings before England’s clash with Australia.
Fiji, who started the match with 10 France-based players, including their entire backline, were typically physical but slumped to a fourth straight defeat in the inaugural Nations Championship.
Their much-vaunted backs struggled to fire, although centre Vinaya Habosi beat four defenders to score and Selestino Ravutaumada added a second consolation try.
The Top 14’s most prolific finisher, Jiuta Wainiqolo, who was playing in his adopted home, was unable to make an impact, though.
- AFP