TOWNSVILLE - France struggled to impose their authority on a spirited Japan side on Saturday with a hard-fought 51-29 win in their World Cup Pool B match.
Japan, who also gave Scotland a fright last Sunday, held the French to a four-point margin at halftime.
FabienPelous and Christophe Dominici relieved the pressure with tries early in the second half and right wing Aurelien scored his second try of the match to increase France's margin.
But Japan refused to give up and their right wing Daisuke Okata scored the try of the match after a sweeping move down the left from deep in the Japanese half. Replacement prop Jean-Jacques Crenca scored a converted try in the final minutes to bring France past the half-century mark.
