France 54-17 Fiji: Eight Tries, Top Spot and a Ntamack Blow

France turned patience into power in Lyon on Saturday night, beating Fiji 54-17 to move to the top of the northern hemisphere Nations Championship table. The eight-try victory at the Groupama Stadium was commanding on the scoreboard, yet it came with a cost that may shape the rest of France's autumn. Fly-half Romain Ntamack left the field with a shoulder injury, and France must now prepare for world champions South Africa without either of their leading fly-halves.

The result extended France's winning run to three matches in the inaugural Nations Championship. After opening with a narrow defeat against New Zealand, Fabien Galthie's side have beaten Australia, Japan and now Fiji, and they sit two points clear of Ireland with two games remaining. For Fiji, the defeat was a fourth in a row, and Jake White's side are still waiting for their first point.

A slow start before France found their rhythm

Fiji began with ambition, turning down an early kick at goal to kick to touch. France stole the lineout, and that early statement set the tone for a first half in which the visitors made life difficult before the hosts' superior power told. The opening was breathless and error-strewn, but France gradually imposed themselves once the first try arrived.

Jean-Baptiste Gros burrowed over in the 15th minute, only his second try for France, and the match changed. A penalty try soon followed after Mesake Vocevoce was sent to the sin bin for collapsing a maul, and Sipili Falatea then burst through tacklers to score France's third try. Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang secured the attacking bonus point before half-time, pouncing after Vilimoni Botitu spilled the ball in his own 22. Botitu had been a late change to the Fiji starting side after Isikeli Rabitu was reportedly sick.

France led 26-3 at the break, with Simione Kuruvoli's penalty the only reward for Fiji's first-half effort. Fiji's physicality had forced errors and slowed the game whenever the hosts tried to accelerate.

The Ntamack injury overshadows the win

The most important moment may have come away from the scoreboard. Ntamack was aligned alongside captain Antoine Dupont at half-back for the first time since March 2025, a reunion that promised control and creativity. Instead, Ntamack seemingly dislocated his shoulder as he stretched for the line in the build-up to France's third try, and he left the field visibly in pain.

With Matthieu Jalibert already out injured, France will face South Africa next week without either of their best fly-halves. That is a serious concern before a fixture in which France have lost nine of their last ten meetings with the Springboks. The loss of Ntamack removes another experienced decision-maker when France need composure most.

Maxime Lucu took over the kicking duties and converted five tries, while Kalvin Gourgues added a conversion of his own. Gourgues, on his first start for France, scored in the corner in the 60th minute for his first international try, ending a second half in which France had taken 19 minutes to add to their tally. Théo Attissogbe then crossed for France's sixth try after a superb counter started by Dupont and continued by Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who set up the score even though he did not cross the line himself.

Fiji refused to disappear

Fiji, who started with ten France-based players including their entire backline, were typically physical throughout and refused to fold when the match was beyond them. Their much-vaunted backs had struggled to fire, and the Top 14's most prolific finisher, Jiuta Wainiqolo, was unable to make an impact in his adopted home. Yet Fiji still produced two of the most eye-catching tries of the match.

Vinaya Habosi beat four defenders to score in the 67th minute, a reminder of the individual brilliance that makes Fiji dangerous even under pressure. Charles Ollivon barged over from close range to restore order for France, but Selestino Ravutaumada then added a breakaway score for the visitors. Ben Volavola converted both Fiji tries, and the second-half fight gave White something to build on before Fiji travel to face Ireland next Sunday at the Aviva Stadium.

The closing minutes belonged to Dupont. The returning captain had already shaped the match with his speed of thought and counter-attacking, and he had the final word with a try in the dying moments as Lucu converted from a tight angle.

Top of the table, but questions remain

France's win was a statement of intent, and the eight tries showed the depth of their attacking threat. Gros, Falatea, Grandidier-Nkanang, Gourgues, Attissogbe, Ollivon and Dupont all crossed, alongside the penalty try, and France passed the 30-point mark for a fourth successive match in the competition. The bonus point was secured before half-time.

Yet the two tries conceded will give France food for thought, and the errors in the second half showed that dominance did not always become control. South Africa will pose a far sterner test next weekend, and France will need to tighten up in defence if they are to avoid another defeat against the world champions. The table position is encouraging, but the Ntamack injury means the victory may be remembered as much for what France lost as for what they gained.

For Fiji, the search for a first Nations Championship point continues. The late tries from Habosi and Ravutaumada showed that their attacking instinct remains intact. Frank Lomani and Volavola marked their 50th Tests in defeat, and White will want his side to stay in the fight for longer against Ireland. France, meanwhile, must find a way to replace Ntamack and keep their title push on track.