France hit a woeful Japan for eight tries in an emphatic 52-12 autumn series win on their Stade de France return on Saturday following last year’s World Cup on home soil, gearing up in style for next weekend’s clash with New Zealand.

France opened their Autumn Nations Series with an eight-try victory against Japan, as Antoine Dupont played an influential part on his international return.

Star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont has celebrated his return as captain and his scoring touch was not even needed as eight-try France routed Japan 52-12 in Paris.

Olympic rugby sevens gold medallist Antoine Dupont set up two tries as France eased past Japan 52-12 in Paris on Saturday. Dupont captained the hosts having missed the Six Nations and this summer's scandal-hit tour of south America as he took France to rip-roaring Olympic gold medal at the Stade de France in July.