15 November 2008 - 17H09
France thrash 14-man Pacific Islanders 42-17
France beat a 14-man Pacific Islanders team on Sunday. Referee Nigel Owens red carded Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga in the 18th minute, helping the French to capitalise on the reduced team to win decisively.
France beat the Pacific Islanders 42-17 in Sochaux on Saturday after the tourists were reduced to 14 men for much of the match.
Referee Nigel Owens sent off winger Napolioni Nalaga in the 18th minute after the Fijian powerhouse, who plays club rugby in France with Clermont Auvergne, knocked out scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde with a late and high tackle.
Elissalde left the field on a stretcher but regained consciousness in the dressing room.
The Islanders were leading 6-3 at the time thanks to two penalties from flyhalf Seremaia Bai, Nalaga's team mate at Clermont, against one converted by France number 10 David Skrela.
The French capitalised on the numerical advantage with tries from hooker Dimitri Szarzewski and replacement scrumhalf Sebastien Tillous-Bordes before the break and Cedric Heymans, Louis Picamoles and Maxime Medard after halftime.
Skrela added four conversions and three penalties.
The Islanders answered with four first half Bai penalties and a face-saving try by Harlequins centre Epi Taione three minutes from time.
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