Thrashing completes Azzurri's miserable campaign

Italy 8 France 5

(AP)

Italy endured their worst Six Nations since 2005 and the country's rugby supremo Giancarlo Dondi was relieved the agony was finally over. Saturday's 50-8 loss against France in Rome marked the Azzurri's fifth consecutive defeat in the competition and their worst loss since a 56-13 setback at home to Les Bleus four years ago.

Dondi was unimpressed and disappointed but confirmed coach Nick Mallett will continue in charge of the Azzurri. "France are a great team," said Dondi. "With this defeat we contributed to making them an even greater team. I apologise to our fans. But Mallett is not under discussion."

There was much expectation regarding the Azzurri's campaign after Mallett, unlike last season, had a whole year to prepare his team for the tournament. He only had a few months to prepare for the 2008 Six Nations and led Italy to victory over Scotland in their final game of the edition. However, the Azzurri failed to come up with the goods and landed the wooden spoon for a second year in a row.

Italy conceded a total of 170 points and 21 tries in the 2009 tournament. Moreover, two tries – from Mirco Bergamasco and Sergio Parisse – were all the Azzurri could muster.

"Obviously the results of this Six Nations cannot satisfy us," said Parisse. "I believe, without trying to make up excuses, that we are taking longer than other teams to adapt to the experimental changes."

Mallett believes Italy have been the team most affected by those changes, introduced to help boost a more entertaining style of play. In particular they have been hindered by the alterations to the maul rules – changed to make it possible for defending sides to collapse if forward momentum is halted. Indeed, as Italy's forwards failed to make an impression, the team struggled to deal with the French pack, led by Sébastien Chabal (pictured), who scored the first of the visitors' seven tries.

"It has been a poor Six Nations from us," said Mallett. "But we have been hindered by the new laws. Italy and Argentina's strength was in the maul. In last year's Six Nations we made six tries, three of which were merit of the maul and that is without counting the penalty goals that were due to the work of the pack, ruck and maul."

The only positive aspect that the Azzurri can take from this tournament is the fans' support. Despite the team's poor results, the Italian fans packed the Stadio Flaminio yesterday as they had done throughout the tournament. "I want to thank our fans for their patience," said captain Parisse, "their enthusiasm has carried us."

Italy: Try Parisse; Penalties Marcato. France: Tries Chabal, Trinh-Duc, Médard 2, Heymans, Domingo, Malzieu; Conversions Parra 3; Penalties Parra 3.

Italy: A Marcato; G Rubini, G Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, M Pratichetti (R Quartaroli, 49); L McLean (L Orquera, 76; F Sbaraglini, 80), P Griffen (P Canavosio, 71); S Perugini, L Ghiraldini, C Nieto (M Castrogiovanni, 61), S Dellape (C Antonio Del Fava, 54), M Bortolami (J Sole, 74), A Zanni, Mauro Bergamasco, S Parisse (capt).

France: D Traille; M Médard, F Fritz (M Bastareaud, 65), Y Jauzion, C Heymans (J Malzieu, 76); F Trinh-Duc, M Parra (F Michalak, 54); F Barcella (S Marconnet, 79), D Szarzewski (W Servat, 54), S Marconnet (T Domingo, 48), L Nallet (capt; J Thion, 76), S Chabal, T Dusautoir, J Bonnaire, I Harinordoquy (L Picamoles, 58).

Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).