A largely reshuffled France side showed a worrying lack of discipline and a certain nonchalance as they laboured to a 27-12 victory against an inspired Uruguay in their second World Cup game.

They prevailed with tries by Antoine Hastoy, Peato Mauvaka and Louis Bielle-Biarrey with the rest of the points coming from the boot of the reliable Melvyn Jaminet.

Uruguay scored two fine tries by Nicolas Freitas and Baltazar Amaya as Felipe Etcheverry could only kick a conversion.

"Credit to Uruguay. They played with so much passion and heart. It was the second win for us in this competition which was important," France general manager Raphale Ibanez said.

Uruguay captain Andres Vilaseca, meanwhile, was beaming with pride.

"I'm so proud of my team. I couldn't ask for a better team to lead. That's the truth," he said.

"Today, 10 minutes left of the game, we were fighting against France, one of the best teams in the world, playing at their home ground. This is only the beginning for us."

It was Uruguay's entrance in this World Cup, and they started their campaign with great fanfare, an early try by Freitas silencing the home crowd. The winger touched down in the corner after collecting a cross-field kick from Felipe Aliaga, showing that the South Americans have more to offer than courage and grit.

The hosts responded quickly after torturing their opponents in the scrum, with Hastoy going over and Jaminet converting, but undisciplined in the scrum and bothered by Uruguay in the mauls, France were only 13-5 ahead at halftime.

Uruguay reduced the deficit with a superb try by Amaya, who evaded a tackle before touching down in the corner. But Les Bleus somehow extended their lead shortly afterwards as Mauvaka scored a try after Felipe Etcheverry's kick in the traffic bounced onto the back of a team mate and into the path of the French hooker.

Seven minutes from time, Bielle-Biarrey, the youngest French player to take part in a World Cup, put the result beyond doubt when he dived over on the open side.

"It's unacceptable at international level, we're lucky to win after being penalised so many times," France lock Cameron Woki said, after his side conceded a total of 15 penalties.

France lead Pool A with eight points, three ahead of Italy who face Uruguay next Wednesday, while France take on Namibia in a week's time. (Reuters)