Following an impressive win over Australia last weekend, France head to Tokyo to take on Japan on Saturday to complete their Nations Championship schedule for the summer.
It has been a mixed campaign for both teams, with France losing to New Zealand 34-32, before earning a 42-26 win over Australia in Brisbane last time out.
Japan enjoyed a 27-10 win over Italy to start their Nations Championship campaign, before they were beaten 36-20 by Ireland on Australian soil last weekend.
Preparing for hot and humid conditions at the National Olympic Stadium, France should be made to work hard for the win against the Brave Blossoms before making the long journey home to Paris.
Japan v France Tips Summary
Best Bet - Japan +26.5 handicap @ 10/11
Alternative Bet - Under 66.5 total points @ 10/11
Bet Builder - Theo Attissogbe, Matthieu Jalibert & Kazuma Ueda anytime tryscorers @ 7/1
Japan v France Prediction
Best Bet: Japan +26.5 handicap @ 10/11
France remain the benchmark in the northern hemisphere and are deserved favourites to come away with the win in Tokyo, but Japan look capable of making this a far more competitive contest than the handicap suggests.
The Brave Blossoms showed plenty of promise despite last weekend's defeat to Ireland in Newcastle, matching the Irish for long spells before fading late on.
History points towards a close encounter this weekend. When these teams last met in Tokyo in 2022, France had to come from behind after trailing 15-7 at the break before eventually edging out a 20-15 victory.
Eddie Jones is renowned for producing surprise tactical tweaks on the biggest occasions and will believe his side can unsettle Les Bleus if they impose their preferred style of play.
Japan have the pace and ambition to ask questions of any defence and should create opportunities throughout the 80 minutes.
The teams that have caused France the most problems in recent years have been those willing to play at speed rather than get dragged into a physical arm wrestle.
That approach suits Japan perfectly, and after the way they challenged Ireland on neutral ground last week, taking the Brave Blossoms with a +26.5 handicap looks the standout bet.
Alternative Bet: Under 66.5 total points @ 10/11
Conditions are expected to be hot and humid in the Japanese capital, with the weather likely to drain both sides physically.
That should slow the tempo as the game wears on and points may be harder to come by than many are anticipating.
With that in mind, and given 35 points were scored the last time these sides crossed paths in Tokyo, a Test match with under 66.5 total points appeals here.
Japan v France Bet Builder Tip
Theo Attissogbe anytime tryscorer
Matthieu Jalibert anytime tryscorer
Kazuma Ueda anytime tryscorer
Pays 7/1
While points might not be as forthcoming as the over/under 66.5 total points mark suggests, there’s enough attacking talent on show here for there to be a handful of tries.
In this three-fold Bet Builder, Theo Attissogbe, Matthieu Jalibert and Kazuma Ueda are all tipped in the anytime tryscorer market.
Attissogbe scored tries in his last two games against the All Blacks and the Wallabies and is backed to score, as is Jalibert, who has scored 14 tries for club and country this season.
Ueda scored 10 tries for the Kobelco Steelers on their way to the title in Japan and he can also get on the scoresheet for the Brave Blossoms.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
France won 20-15 the last time these sides met in Tokyo in 2022
Japan lost 36-20 against Ireland in Australia last weekend
France go into this game on the back of a 42-26 win over Australia in Brisbane last Saturday
France have never lost to Japan, with six wins and a single draw back in 2017
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
