Tournament hosts France eased through pool A with four dominant victories and are looking an unstoppable force ahead of the quarter-finals after their 60-7 demolition of Six Nations rivals Italy. 

South Africa look like Les Bleus’ next opponents in the last eight and Fabian Galthie’s side will be full of confidence after their seven-try victory, despite the absence of injured talisman Antoine Dupont. 

France enjoyed the perfect start as Thomas Ramos put Damian Penaud over for the opening try after just two minutes.

Ramos added to the tournament hosts’ lead with a penalty from halfway before Penaud produced a kick pass to tyro wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey who still had work to do but stepped a couple of defenders and dotted down.

The French flair was on full display in Lyon as the instrumental Ramos finished another try that involved magical handling from the France backline.

Italy responded with an abundance of phases against a stubborn French defence and after 17 surges forward, eventually Simone Ferrari crossed but the try that was ruled out by the TMO due to the try scorer’s dangerous clean out in the build up on Maxime Lucu’s head. 

The Italy prop was yellow carded for foul play, while at the other end France secured the four-try bonus point.

Mathieu Jalibert produced a pinpoint cross field kick to pick out Penaud who scored his 15th try of the calendar year. 

As good as France were, Italy were awful in truth conceding multiple handling errors and foolish penalties.

Jalibert crossed after half time with a dummy and slick side-step showcasing how much of a balanced runner the France fly-half is.

Hooker Peato Mauvaka was the next cab off the rank to score as he dove over for France’s sixth try. 

France reached the half century mark through Yoram Moefana’s try out wide courtesy of Jalibert’s looping pass.

Manuel Zuliani scored Italy’s first points as the Azzuri’s endeavour was rewarded with the back row hustling and fighting his way over the whitewash. 

Moefana secured his brace profiting from scintillating handling and Melvyn Jaminet kicked a last gasp penalty to round off an emphatic France win.