France made it two from two with a comfortable 41-15 win over Georgia in Bordeaux as Damian Penaud and Peato Mauvaka scored two tries apiece.
A week after seeing off Argentina, France were expected to back it up and they did just that, running in six tries in all despite a big effort from the Georgians after the break.
They will now turn their attentions to next week’s clash with the All Blacks as they look to make it three wins from three in the Autumn Nations Series.
Georgia held France in check for the first 20 minutes, but a pair of yellow cards made their task harder as Les Bleus ran in three tries before the break, a penalty try as well as scores from Matthieu Jalibert and Penaud to lead 24-3.
Vasil Lobzhanidze got Georgia’s first try early in the second half, with Mauvaka hitting straight back with his second Test try. Akaki Tabutsadze got a second for Georgia, who were much improved in the second half.
But France finished with a flourish as Penaud and then Mauvaka completed their doubles.
France had the first opportunity within a minute when Penaud was put into space on the right and chipped over the last defender but he could not control the ball as he went to try to touch down and knocked on over the line.
Melvyn Jaminet missed his first shot at goal soon afterwards but found his range with a simple kick on nine minutes to put France into the lead.
Georgia found themselves down to 14 men as fly-half Tedo Abzhandadze was sent to the sin-bin for an intentional knock-on after Jalibert and Romain Ntamack had made ground with ball in hand. France kicked to the corner in search of the first try but a clever lineout move ended with Grégory Alldritt being held up over the line.
Despite being a man down, Georgia produced their best passage of the half to get into the French 22 and after the home side strayed offside, Davit Niniashvili drew his team level midway through the half.
France came straight back though and after a rolling maul was illegally stopped by Beka Saghinadze, he joined Abzhandadze in the bin and France went 10-3 up thanks to the penalty try.
The fly-half returned shortly afterwards and France missed a chance at a second try when Sekou Macalou was tackled into touch as it looked like he had space on the outside. But it was only temporary respite as Cameron Woki stole the ball at the lineout and France went straight to the backs where Ntamack put Jalibert in for his first Test try. With Jaminet’s conversion, France were 17-3 up.
Georgia were back to a full complement but five minutes before half-time, France had their third off a five-metre scrum. Antoine Dupont held the defence with two steps before feeding Gaël Fickou. The centre then passed inside to Penaud who burst over.
The second half started with Georgia on the front foot, taking advantage of a kick out on the full from Jalibert to get a five-metre lineout but Beka Gorgadze was held up over the line.
But they did have their first try soon after when Lobzhanidze dummied and got over from close range.
From the restart, Georgia strayed offside though, and France went to the corner where Mauvaka went over for the try for the second week running. Jaminet converted from the touchline to make it 31-10 with half an hour to go.
But it was Georgia who got the next score, going against their stereotype. A five-metre scrum was under pressure but the ball went to the backs and through the hands to put Tabutsadze over in the corner.
France responded, Penaud going over on the right after Ntamack and Fickou had combined to open up the space. And with two minutes to go, it was Mauvaka who went over once again from a powerful rolling maul.
