France v Fiji tips: French attack to set the pace
France should win in Lyon. They scored 42 against both Australia and Japan in July, while Fiji conceded 145 across three championship defeats. Jake White's arrival has already brought Fiji a win over Japan, but the French attack presents a substantially harder test of that improvement.
France v Fiji. Saturday, 07 November 2026, 22:10 SAST. Nations Championship. Groupama Stadium, Lyon.
Match comparison
| Focus | Recent performance | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| France in July | Lost 34-32 to New Zealand | Then beat Australia and Japan with 42 points each |
| Fiji in July | Three defeats | 39 conceded to Wales, 73 to England, 33 to Scotland |
| France matchday 23 | Dupont and Ntamack paired at half-back | Capilla in line for a debut off the bench |
France carried their scoring across three opponents
France opened with a two-point defeat in New Zealand before beating Australia 42-26 and Japan 42-15. Scoring 116 points across those fixtures gives them a strong attacking case without relying on the names in the November squad.
Fiji's corresponding results were defeats of 39-24 against Wales, 73-8 against England and 33-17 against Scotland. The England match was the most severe, but the other two also ended with Fiji conceding more than 30.
That is an awkward starting point against a French side that reached 42 twice away from home. Fiji need a considerable improvement in the number of scoring opportunities they allow, not just a closer contest than the England result.
White has made a winning start
Fiji beat Japan in October in White's first match as head coach. It gives the visitors a more recent positive result than their winless July campaign and makes the coaching change relevant beyond a new name on the touchline.
The next step is much larger. France beat the same Japanese side 42-15 in the championship, so Fiji's latest victory does not yet establish that their defence can contain this opponent.
White has picked former England number eight Nathan Hughes to start at number eight on his Fiji Test debut. Jiuta Wainiqolo starts on the left wing, while Josua Tuisova and Caleb Muntz are not in the matchday 23. Isikeli Rabitu and Simione Kuruvoli form the half-back pairing.
The wider programme is in our rugby tips. Our guide to betting sites compares account terms and payment options.
The Nations Championship guide follows the Springboks through November. It includes their schedule and the route to the final weekend.
France have lost forwards but kept their half-backs
Anthony Jelonch and Joshua Brennan withdrew after Toulouse's defeat at Pau. Jelonch failed a concussion assessment, while the reason for Brennan's withdrawal was not disclosed.
Antoine Deliance and Charles Kanté Samba have joined the preparation group in their places. Both are 21 and uncapped.
Oscar Jegou was then ruled out after a training injury, and Esteban Capilla could win his first cap from the bench. Galthié has still paired Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack at half-back for the first time since March 2025, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the left wing.
That gives France a strong spine, but it is the July scoring record that makes the home prediction convincing.
Fiji must stop the repeated scoring
Fiji put 24 past Wales and 17 past Scotland in July. They can contribute points, but France's 42-point performances would leave either of those attacking returns a long way short.
We expect France to win through sustained scoring rather than one decisive moment. Fiji's first result under White is encouraging; correcting a championship defence that conceded 145 points is the much bigger task in Lyon.