Hosts hammer Namibia

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.

After being crippled by stage fright against Argentina, France picked up where they had left off during their World Cup preparations which brought victories over England and Wales. They can not afford to lose another match in Pool D if they are to reach the quarter-finals and face a pivotal clash against Ireland in Paris on Friday.

Ireland's dire 32-17 victory over Namibia was put into perspective by this contest and if France maintain this swashbuckling form a long night awaits Brian O'Driscoll's side. Canny Les Bleus coach Bernard Laporte included eight Toulouse players in his line-up in a bid to get the crowd behind their home favourites and help reignite the nation's World Cup aspirations.

Only three players - Cedric Heymans, Damien Traille and Pieter De Villiers - remained from the side that was edged by the Pumas. After this display, which was admittedly against limited opposition ranked 24th in the world, Laporte will have a few tricky decisions to make before Tuesday's team announcement.