France lead fighting Japanese

France 20, Japan 16 (HT)

An almost full-strength French side lead spirited Japan by four points at half-time in their Pool B clash with Japan at Townsville.

Japan drew first blood with a Toru Kuriahaa penalty goal in the fourth minute, but France replied with two tries in three minutes.

Frederic Michalak converted his own try in the fifth minute as the fllyhalf went over under the posts and Aurelien Rougerie added to Les Bleus’ tally in the eighth minute with another, which Michalak duly converted.

Kurihara and Michalak exchanged penalties in the 11th and 17th minutes before the underdogs began to exert some pressure on the European giants.

Their diligence was rewarded with a 32nd minute George Konia try, converted by Kurihara. The fullback was on hand again to land a penalty with the last kick of the half to reduce arrears to four.