France secured a record 96-0 victory over Namibia in Marseille, with Damian Penaud scoring a hat-trick of tries, but the win was overshadowed by a serious facial injury to captain Antoine Dupont. The scrum-half was forced off early in the second half after a clash of heads with Namibia captain Johan Deysel, who received a red card following a bunker review.
Reports in France suggest Dupont has suffered a fractured cheekbone, potentially jeopardising his participation in the remainder of the Rugby World Cup. Head coach Fabien Galthie confirmed the suspicion of a crack or fracture of the maxillary bone, stating that Dupont was in hospital for tests and that the team was extremely concerned.
France dominated from the outset, scoring 54 points in the first half. Tries from Jonathan Danty, Charles Ollivon, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, among others, built an unassailable lead. Dupont himself crossed for a try before his injury, and his angled kick set up Bielle-Biarrey's score.
In the second half, Baptiste Couilloud, Melvyn Jaminet, and a penalty try extended the lead, surpassing France's previous record of 87-10 against Namibia in 2007. Despite the victory, the focus remained on Dupont's condition, with general team manager Raphaël Ibañez expressing sympathy and highlighting the dangers of head-to-head contact.
