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In the first international at the newly-opened venue and its artificial pitch, 2019 World Cup hosts Japan impressed with their enterprising play and hooker Shota Horie dived over for the opening try in the corner.
But an uninspiring France, who are trying to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat, stayed in touch thanks to a pair of penalties from fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc, before prop Rabah Slimani barrelled over to score shortly before the break.