Fiery French get back on track

WORLD Cup hosts France took out nine days of pent-up frustration on Namibia with a resounding victory that will have drawn nervous glances from Ireland last night.

The French, battered and pilloried after their loss to Argentina in the Rugby World Cup opener, headed southwest to Toulouse last week to recharge the batteries and did so with their emphatic Pool D win, winning 87-10. Yes, that means a bonus point.

France coach Bernard Laporte might be well advised to bus the entire Toulouse crowd up to the capital for Friday night’s game. Half an hour before the start the stadium was rocking, passionate fans roaring La Marseillaise down at the Namibians warming up at the west end of the stadium.