France 87 Namibia 10: Seven days after Ireland laboured to an unconvincing victory over Nambia, France ran up a cricket score against the same opposition to gain the perfect fillip ahead of Friday's showdown with Eddie O'Sullivan's wounded side.

Les Bleus needed an emphatic result at Le Stade to nudge their group campaign back on track after tumbling to a 17-12 defeat to Argentina in the tournament's curtain raiser.

And they responded in champagne style with the bonus point arriving just after the half-hour mark in a 13-try rout of the hapless Namibians.

Toulouse winger Vincent Clerc delighted the home fans by running-in a hat-trick and there were doubles for bulldozing forwards Lionel Nallet and Sebastien Chabal.

Cedric Heymans, David Marty, Thierry Dusautoir, Julien Bonnaire, Raphael Ibanez and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde also crossed in a terrible mis-match.

Skipper Jean-Baptiste Elissalde booted 11 conversions to further improve France's points difference, which could prove crucial come Pool D's final reckoning.

Namibia's cause was not helped when Jacques Nieuwenhuis was shown a straight red card in the 19th minute for a 'clothesline' on Sebastien Chabal.

Chabal was left spread-eagled for a couple of minutes and referee Alain Rolland had no hesitation in showing a straight red card, which seemed a little harsh.

Namibia's points came from a Emile Wessels drop-goal and late interception try by Bratley Langenhoven in what was otherwise a long, hard night for the Africans.