France thrash Namibia 96-0, but Dupont injured in high tackle

Very strange that they allow such weak teams in an international championship. It just goes to show the difference between major sports and minor sports around the world. Rugby is popular in just a few countries.

England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Italy, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, Japan, Samoa, and Fiji can all make a decent showing; Tonga and Georgia can be tricky opponents and sometimes Canada, the US and Uruguay can show something. In the rather distant past, Romania were respectable too. Admittedly, the disparity between Namibia - who nonetheless often qualify for the WC, mainly with South Africans - and the top, say eleven (the first eleven here) is too much and the rugby community should have done more to elevate the game (though Argentina and Japan have both moved up - it was not so long ago Japan was being beaten by 90 points by New Zealand). But to say that the third biggest tournament, after the Olympics and football world cup, is for a minor sport is unfair. It's bigger than baseball or basketball.

Very strange that they allow such weak teams in an international championship.

While it's not a great look to have a team thrashed by 96, it is about growing up the game. Back in the '95 WC, the minnow Brave Blossoms were beaten by 130 points by NZ. They've learnt the game and improved greatly since then - as hopefully minnows like Namibia will.

Thrashings exist in every sports world Championships.

Somebody wrote last week...

France is not known for playing Rugby 

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!..

Rugby is played mostly in Southwest of France.

Nearby Paris, we don't play it.

Weather has to do something for sure.

 But to say that the third biggest tournament, after the Olympics and football world cup,

Football EURO championships, UEFA champions league, cricket world cup are all bigger than rugby.

The Rugby World Cup has become the third-largest global sports event after the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics, according to the 2015 Nikkei Asian Review, and this claim has been repeated since then. However, I accept that these are old claims and there are some doubts over the methodologies for them.

96-0 is a thrashing. The minnow teams like Namibia, Chile and Uruguay need to get their big companies to sponsor rugby and pay for 3rd and 4th stream Kiwis, South Africans and Islanders to go and play for their teams. After 5 years, the residency rule would kick in and they could be selected to play for the national team.

Until then there will be 4 teams with a chance of winning and maybe 2 others with a chance of making the final depending on the draw. The rest are just making up the numbers. Often exciting to watch and make the tournament worthwhile but that's the reality.

Jonathan you’re speaking about rugby but you know nothing about French rugby….Nearby Paris « we » don’t play. What ? Do you know Top 14 ? In Top 14 there are Racing 92, founded 1880 located in Nanterre, then Stade Français founded in 1883, very famous Paris club for his rugby section…luckily first now in Top 14 ! Please don’t talk about things you’re unaware :)

About today this match, I’m confused why Dupont was still playing after the first half…at 54/0 it was a crime or a stupidity from Galthié.