France 50 Canada 6: France ran in seven tries to crush Canada in a one-sided international at Nantes on Saturday. A week after beating Australia 26-16, coach Bernard Laporte's men relied on a devastating combination of power and flair to simply outclass the visitors.
Flanker Julien Bonnaire scored two tries and Frederic Michalak, David Marty, Thomas Castaignede, Sebastien Bruno and Pierre Mignoni contributed one each. Flyhalf Michalak and scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili kicked 15 points. Canada trailed 25-3 at the break. They managed only two penalties by Derek Daypuck. Despite the absence of suspended captain Fabien Pelous, France built a 6-0 lead after just 11 minutes courtesy of two penalties from Yachvili.
Bonnaire scored the home side's first try after 18 minutes and Michalak added a superb individual effort four minutes later. A Daypuck penalty gave the visitors their first points but France responded with a try by centre Marty, converted by Yachvili before the interval. Castaignede, Bruno, Bonnaire, and substitute Mignoni added further tries.
FRANCE: T Castaignede; A Rougerie, D Marty, Y Jauzion (J Laharrague, 40), C Heymans; F Michalak, D Yachvili (P Mignoni, 75); S Marconnet, S Bruno (R Ibanez, 60), P de Villiers (O Milloud, 65), L Nallet; J Thion (G Lamboley, 65), J Bonnaire; R Martin, T Lievremont (Y Nyanga, 73),
CANADA: D Daypuck; M Pyke (M Weingart, 75), R Smith (R McWhinney, 60), J Cannon, B Henderson; E Fairhurst, M Williams; K Tkachuk (M Lawson, 65), A Abrams (C Dunning, 57), G Cooke (F Gainer, 60), J Cudmore, M James (capt), M Webb (A Kleeberger,40+2, M Burak, 65), S McKeen, A Carpenter.
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand).
