Townsend flicks the ball wide. (Getty Images)

By Simon Stone, PA Sport, Sydney

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For the past fortnight France have tip-toed through the World Cup without attracting a second glance. Not anymore.

On Saturday night they strutted into Telstra Stadium, looked round at the packed stands, puffed out their chests and decided to turn in a performance.

Unfortunately for Scotland, they were the victims and coach Ian McGeechan faces the unenviable task of scraping up the ravaged remains of a side suffering their heaviest defeat at French hands.

England have been touted in most quarters as certainties to reach the World Cup final but on this evidence, if Clive Woodward and the Barmy Army are thinking about booking their hotel rooms in advance, they had better make it a provisional reservation.

Woodward's side may well be the most consistent team in the world but even they would be hard pressed to match France on this form. A semi-final looms at the same venue on November 16 and already 'Le Crunch' is looking pretty tasty.

All over the field the French have match-winners. Fly-half Frederic Michalak finished with 28 points, scrum-half Fabien Galthie marshalled his troops like an old general, full-back Nicolas Brusque defended with certainty and attacked with imagination. The back-row of Olivier Magne, Serge Betsen and Imanol Harinordoquy cut sorry Scotland to shreds.

The fall-out from the massive 12-week ban incurred by Martin Leslie earlier in the week hardly suggested an untroubled build-up for the Scots but the mood in the camp pre-match was one of defiance and, in fairness, it continued for the first half hour.

But France eventually got bored and decided to turn up the heat.

The first signs of the damage to come began to emerge in the final 10 minutes of the first-half, when referee David McHugh harshly penalised Glenn Metcalfe for a high tackle on Galthie.

Michalak converted to put his side into a six-point lead and Scotland lost their concentration.

Within two minutes, Magne had led a back-row charge downfield, Harinordoquy was at his shoulder to take the first pass, Betsen ghosted up to take the second, plunged over the line and all the good work Scotland had put in was rendered useless.

McGeechan spent the interval imploring his team not to buckle, warning them of the onslaught they were likely to face. It was not that his words were not heeded, just that Scotland did not possess enough ability to carry them out.

Brusque slotted over a drop-goal, following the pattern set by Michalak which had originally put France back in front during the first-half after Chris Paterson had levelled the fly-half's early penalty. Then came complete carnage.

Steering their way forwards after a clean line-out take, the French pack mounted a ferocious assault on the Scottish line, sending their opponents scuttling far enough backwards for Harinordoquy to collect the simplest of tries.

More grunt and grind was to follow. Scotland shunted off their own scrum, Harinordoquy picking up and sliding the ball to Galthie, who forced his way to the corner.

In between, Michalak had put on his dancing shoes and sidestepped his way past Jason White and Bryan Redpath to touch down by the posts.

By this point, Scotland were in disarray and staring bleakly at a humiliating defeat.

Sensing the impending embarrassment, France started to show some pity, over-elaborating in that typically Gallic way, giving Scotland the impression they still had something to offer when in truth all their efforts were spent.

But, like a classical painting, the victory needed signing off. In the 80th minute Brusque picked up the brush and finished Scotland off with a stylish stroke, collecting his own chipped kick, cutting inside Paterson and diving over the line. Michalak's conversion brought up the half century.

England may still be World Cup favourites and Woodward still has reason to be confident but Les Bleus are on the march and everyone knows it now.

Teams

France: Brusque, Rougerie, Marsh, Jauzion, Dominici, Michalak, Galthie, Crenca, Ibanez, Marconnet, Pelous, Thion, Betsen, Magne, Harinordoqui.

Replacements: Merceron for Marsh (70), Bru for Ibanez (63), Tabacco for Marconnet (63), Brouzet for Pelous (80), Milloud for Magne (63).

Not Used: Traille, Elhorga.

Tries: Betsen, Harinordoqui, Michalak, Galthie, Brusque.

Cons: Michalak 3, Merceron.

Pens: Michalak 4.

Drop Goals: Michalak, Brusque.

Scotland: Metcalfe, Paterson, Craig, Henderson, Logan, Townsend, Redpath, Smith, Bulloch, Kerr, Murray, Grimes, White, Mather, Taylor.

Replacements: McLaren for Henderson (63), Russell for Bulloch (68), Douglas for Kerr (40), Hines for Murray (61), Petrie for Mather (35).

Not Used: Blair, Danielli.

Pens: Paterson 3.

Att: 83,500

Ref: David McHugh (Ireland).