Rugby: Vakatawa stars as France crush Samoa

Wing Virimi Vakatawa has exploded onto the scene with the French national team. Photo / Getty

Left winger Virimi Vakatawa crossed for a hat trick as France crushed Samoa 52-8 at the cost of flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc breaking his right arm on Saturday.

The powerful running of center Wesley Fofana and the clinical finishing of Vakatawa were too much for a Samoa side that was overwhelmed.

France scored seven tries, the others from winger Yoann Huget, flanker Charles Ollivon, replacement center Gael Fickou, and a late penalty try after good work from No. 8 Louis Picamoles.

It was France's fourth win against Samoa in as many matches and its largest, surpassing the 43-5 victory in 2009 and nothing like the close contest which finished 22-14 four years ago.

It also followed a 27-0 success away to Argentina in late June, and shows the Tricolors are back in form following a mundane Six Nations.

Samoa's points came from flyhalf Patrick Fa'apale's penalty and center Rey Lee-Lo's try that caught France napping at the start of the second half.

Vakatawa broke into the France team in the Six Nations despite being a contracted sevens player. He does not play for a club in France's elite Top 14, and had not even played since representing France at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

But he showed little signs of rustiness with well-taken tries, two of them in the second half.

Trinh-Duc came off following a tackle from winger Paul Perez, who was playing at the ground where he plays his rugby for Toulouse, and was among Samoa's best players.

Playing tough-tackling Samoa is one of the most physical challenges in rugby, and France certainly felt it.

Prop Jefferson Poirot hurt his shoulder and center Remi Lamerat also came off with a knock at the same time as Trinh-Duc.

- AAP