Italy vs France LIVE rugby: Six Nations 2023 result and reaction as Italy narrowly miss out on famous win

Italy 24-29 France: Italy push the reigning grand slam champions all the way but Matthieu Jalibert’s try sees Les Bleus win

Six Nations: England must endure pain in order to grow, Borthwick says after Scotland loss

Ethan Dumortier scored a try on his France debut as the Les Bleus kick-started their Six Nations title defence with a hard-fought 29-24 bonus-point victory over a fiesty Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.

Thibault Flament, Thomas Ramos and Matthieu Jalibert also got on the scoresheet for the Grand Slam champions, while Ange Capuozzo dotted down for Italy and Tommaso Allan added four penalties.

The visitors were dealt a second-half scare when Charles Ollivon was sent to the sin bin and Italy were awarded a penalty try, at one point taking a second-half lead through Allan.

Les Bleus fended off the threat and will look to extend their winning streak to 15 when they travel to Ireland next weekend.

Relive all the action from Italy vs France below:

Six Nations 2023: Italy vs France

• Italy narrowly miss out on famous win over France in the final match of Round 1 of the 2023 Six Nations
• Reigning grand slam champions Les Bleus pushed all the way but Jalibert’s try helps them win 29-24 in Rome
• Resurgent Italy continued to show imprvement after an impressive 2022
• FULL-TIME! ITALY 24-29 France
• 67’ - TRY! Jalibert goes over after great work to put France back on top (ITA 24-29 FRA)
• 62’ - PENALTY! Allan slots fourth penalty to give Italy the lead (ITA 24-22 FRA)
• 51’ - PENALTY TRY! Alldritt hauls down a rolling maul for a penalty try and is sent to the sin-bin (ITA 21-22)
• 32’ - TRY! Brilliant acrobatic finish down the blindside from Capuozzo (ITA 11-19 FRA)
• 27’ - TRY! Dupont’s pinpoint cross-field kick finds debutant Dumortier for the score (ITA 6-19 FRA)
• 19’ - TRY! Ramos dots down after Capuozzo outmuscled by Penaud in the air (ITA 3-12 FRA)
• 5’ - TRY! Flament charges down Varney’s box kick and canters over (ITA 0-7 FRA)

[5 February 2023 16:48 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 24-29 France, 80 minutes

Safety first from Allan - kicked out outside the French 22. One last shot at another magic Italian moment...

[5 February 2023 16:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 24-29 France, 79 minutes

Penalty advantage for Italy! Two French players in at the side of the maul.

The clock ticks past 79:00 as Italy take a wise pause. Tommaso Allan will look for as much distance as possible with his punt towards the corner.

[5 February 2023 16:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 24-29 France, 78 minutes

The lineout goes awry! France might have been able to milk some clock with the maul but Gaetan Barlot’s throw had too much amplitude.

The ball diverts into touch off a French boot. Italy lineout on halfway.

[5 February 2023 16:45 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 24-29 France, 77 minutes

Alessandro Fusco has replaced Stephen Varney at scrum half for Italy. He injects a bit of tempo, bringing his forwards around the corner with appropriate gusto.

But that’s a magnificent bit of work from Sekou Macalou. Supports in the tackle, shows a clear release and then over the top like a barnacle - penalty to France!

[5 February 2023 16:44 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 24-29 France, 76 minutes

Crikey is this tense. Into the final five minutes with the game very much in the balance.

France scrum strongly but can’t draw a penalty. A threaded kick goes out of play just before Ange Capuozzo’s attempted hack diverts it further towards the stands - it’ll be Italy’s lineout ball to throw.

[5 February 2023 16:41 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 24-29 France, 74 minutes

France have started to be more active at the breakdown, both counter-rucking when they can and trying to jackal if the opportunity is there. Yoram Moefana tries one of each, nearly winning the ball with a burly shove and then cleared out well just as he seemed ready to pounce on an isolated Italian carrier.

[5 February 2023 16:40 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Missed penalty! Italy 24-29 France, 73 minutes

Just wide! An ooh of disappointment from Tommaso Allan, slicing his effort from the ten-metre line wide. Five points the gap remains.

[5 February 2023 16:39 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 24-29 France, 71 minutes

But Italy refuse to go away. Another advantage (for a tackle off the ball from Romain Taofifenua) prompts a left-ward exploration, with Tommasoo Menoncello put into space.

Menoncello pokes ahead and looks the favourite for the bouncing ball, but can’t force his second kick between French legs to capitalise.

There’s the penalty, though, to which Italy can return. What’s the decision? A kick at goal.

[5 February 2023 16:38 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 24-29 France, 70 minutes

A timely steal from French hands! Italy play, slightly surprisingly, off the top of the lineout, and Anthony Jelonch is in superbly to nick the ball after Italy’s midfield carrier is felled.

[5 February 2023 16:37 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Italy 24-29 France, 69 minutes

A big test now for Italy to recompose themselves and push for a grandstand finish. More changes in the pack: Luca Bigi at hooker, Federico Zani at prop, Giovanni Pettinelli in the back row, and Edoardo Iachizzi at lock - a debut for Iachizzi, who is based in France with Vannes.

Italy win a penalty at the lineout.