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Posted at 12:00 p.m., Sunday, September 16, 2007

Rugby: France crushes Namibia for biggest victory

By Robert Millward
Associated Press

PARIS — France routed Namibia 87-10 at the Rugby World Cup today, responding with its biggest international rugby victory after an embarrassing opening loss to Argentina.

The French displayed the full repertoire of their running game in the Group D game in Toulouse and finished with 13 tries. The outcome topped France's 77-10 victory over Fiji at Saint-Etienne in 2001.

"After a difficult week we're back in the World Cup, but the hardest and finest have yet to be faced," France coach Bernard Laporte said. "It's a pleasure to see the players happy again. It was good to see the players tackling, taking risks, and playing rugby with a smile on their face."

Elsewhere, Tonga defeated Samoa 19-15 in Montpellier in Group A, and Fiji beat Canada 29-16 in Cardiff, Wales, and is now even on points with Australia atop Group B. Fiji's final two group games are against Australia and Wales. Tonga meets South Africa and England.

In the France-Namibia game, Vincent Clerc scored three tries and had a fourth disallowed. Lionel Nallet and Sebastien Chabal scored two each, and Cedric Heymans, David Marty, Thierry Dusautoir, Julien Bonnaire, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Raphael Ibanez made it nine different try scorers. Elissalde also kicked 11 conversions for a personal tally of 27.

The score was 87-3 by the time Bratley Langenhoven intercepted a pass and scored Namibia's only try with a minute to go.

Tonga overturned a 12-3 deficit to beat Samoa 19-16 despite finishing with 13 men after red and yellow cards. It was its first victory over its neighbor in nine games, dating to 2000.

"It was an awesome, awesome game from the boys," Tonga's Finau Maka said. "Not many teams win with 13 men."

Fiji had to withstand a Canadian comeback at a sparsely attended game at the 75,000-capacity Millennium Stadium.

Kele Leawere, Kameli Ratuvou and Vilimoni Delasau crossed the Canada's line to open a healthy lead just after halftime. But the Canadians rallied from 22-6 down to pull within six points with a few minutes remaining and were camped on the Fijian line.

A converted try would have turned the match around, but the team lost possession and Ratuvou wound up running the length of the field to start the Fijian celebrations.

At 22-13, Mike Pyke spun across the line for a score that would have put Canada within a kick of Fiji. But it was disallowed after the referee deferred to the TV official.

"We watched it a number of times. Even in the first instance the ball was on the line, he's allowed immediate movement," Canada coach Ric Suggett said. "To me, that's a simple call. That's a try."