TOKYO - Japan made a positive start but were shut out after the break in a 42-15 defeat to France in Nations Championship rugby on Saturday.
The loss to one of their 2027 Rugby World Cup pool opponents leaves Eddie Jones' men with one win and two losses from their three Nations Championship matches in July.
The world No. 4 Bleus led 28-15 at halftime before turning up their defensive intensity and beating 11th-ranked Japan by six tries to two at Tokyo's MUFG Stadium.
The visitors quickly got on the scoreboard when hooker Maxime Lamothe crossed in the opening minutes, but Japan responded through a Takuro Matsunaga penalty and a try by wing Kippei Ishida to move ahead 8-7 after 15 minutes.
France regained the lead when Matthieu Jalibert finished off a sustained attack, and the momentum shifted decisively after Japan lock Harry Hockings was shown a yellow card.
Among the bright spots for the hosts was a first international try for university student prop Sojiro Otsuka in the 36th minute.
Japan captain Warner Dearns said the Brave Blossoms had allowed France to dictate play and take the hosts out of their preferred game.
"There's a lot of things we need to work on. We let France play their game and we weren't able to stop them," the 24-year-old lock said. "There's a lot of learnings we can take from this game. We need to stay in the Japan system and play our rugby."
The inaugural Rugby Championship, featuring Europe's Six Nations and the Southern Hemisphere's Rugby Championship, alongside Japan and Fiji, picks back up in November.
The Brave Blossoms will host world No. 8 Australia at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka Prefecture on Aug. 8.
