With four teams on two wins heading into the final weekend, France needed a big win to give themselves the best possible chance of a runners-up finishing, and they started quickly with tries from Elodie Guiglion, Billes and then a Gaelle Mignot try giving them a 21-0 lead after just 15 minutes, Aurélie Bailon converting all three.

Centre Sandrine Agricole then ran in a fourth French try before Billes crossed again out wide just before the break.

There was still time for Safi N'Diaye to go over on the stroke of half-time as France led 40-0 at the break.

It didn't take long for les Bleues to strike again, Billes completing her treble in the first minute of the second half, and when Agricole got her second France had hit 50 points.

Full-back Jessy Trémoulière then went over for the first of two tries, before powerful prop Christelle Chobet crashed over for the tenth French score with half an hour remaining.

Trémoulière then went over for her second before Lucille Godiveau finished the scoring with the final try of the game.

The win means that realistically France will finish second unless England women win by more than 36 points away in Wales on Sunday.