Having underwhelmed in the win over Uruguay last week, France needed a big response in Marseille and Fabian Galthie’s fully loaded side delivered just that with a mesmerising 14-try 96-0 victory.

The French flair was on full display at a vibrant Stade Velodrome where the tournament hosts put in a compelling performance that forced their competitors for the Webb Ellis Cup to take notice. 

France’s pack gave Antoine Dupont a penalty advantage and the star scrum-half produced a wonderful cross field kick to pick out Damian Penaud, who for the sixth successive international appearance, scored. 

France scored their second try inside 10 minutes as Mathieu Jalibert’s kick in behind was pounced on by Louis Bielle-Biarrey and the tyro winger handed returning centre Jonathan Danty an easy try.

Namibia captain Johan Deysel’s impressive jackal turnover inside his own 22 momentarily halted the French avalanche but moments later the home side scored their third try with an incredible score.

Dupont raced down the right and picked out Jalibert, whose no look offload found Penaud and the winger offloaded back across the pitch to Charles Ollivon, with the former captain running in quite possibly the best try of the tournament so far.

Penaud secured his brace and France’s bonus point after just 22 minutes as Peato Mauvaka picked out his wing with another no look offload off a lineout to allow the Bordeaux Begles flyer to race away untouched.

Danty scored his second try after a well worked lineout move saw Dupont pick out the bulldozing centre from close-range. 

Namibia broke forward in a rare foray and were metres away from scoring but La Rochelle powerhouse Danty got himself over the ball and the immovable object secured the jackal penalty.

Former Wasps second row Thibaud Flament crossed for number six while the visitors broke forward again but missed a golden opportunity to get on the scoresheet as they overthrew a lineout 5m out. 

Gael Fickou broke through the defence before Penaud danced his way forward to provide the brilliant Dupont with an easy run in.

Dupont found himself in the Namibia 22 and despite being under immense pressure and hit late he produced another moment of magic as his pinpoint cross field kick, this time tee up his other winger Bielle-Biarrey on the stroke of half time.

Danco Burger appeared to have score a try for Namibia at the start of the second stanza but Deysel was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle in the build up which cancelled the crossover and the centre’s reckless collision was upgraded to a red 

At the other end replacement Baptiste Couilloud scored and Penaud later completed his hat-trick.

Bielle-Biarrey scored his second as he raced from inside his own half and sprinted from left to right to complete a breathtaking try.

It was Ollivon’s turn to score his second as he dummied to fly in from 30m out, substitute full back Melvyn Jaminet followed and a penalty try rounded off the scoring as Jason Benade collapsed a maul illegally that was destined for the line.