Italy vs France LIVE rugby: Result and reaction from Six Nations as Les Bleus run rampant in Rome
Italy 24-73 France: The visitors delivered a statement performance to get their campaign back on track
France ran rampant in Rome to deliver a Six Nations statement with a 73-24 thrashing of Italy.
After a damaging defeat to England in round two, Fabien Galthie’s visitors were in a ruthless mood as they produced a scintillating display of attacking rugby to carve their hosts to pieces. Antoine Dupont starred throughout while Leo Barre and Theo Attissogbe, brought back into the side after Matthieu Jalibert and Damian Penaud were left out, also impressed, vindicating the France head coach after some bold calls.
Italy began brightly and matched Les Bleus in a frantic opening, with Tommaso Menoncello producing a sparkling score to open their account. But the Azzurri simply could not live with the power, pace and panache that France possess. Out of sight they surged to a mighty margin of victory to restore their confidence ahead of a huge meeting with Ireland in round four. With their points difference impressive after a similarly sizeable drubbing of Wales on the opening weekend, France will feel they are still firmly in the title chase.
Re-live all of the action from the Stadio Olimpico in our live blog below:
France 0-0 Italy 1 minutes
Early penalty for France and they opt to kick to the corner, they have an attacking platform to apply pressure on the Italian goal line. Scrappy play see’s a turnover and Italy clear their lines
France 0-0 Italy 0 minutes
Thomas Ramos the flyhalf for France kicks us off in Rome, no doubt a fast and physical encounter to come
Italy vs France
Italy great Sergio Parisse delivers the match ball, the nation’s finest ever player getting the rousing reception he deserves. A lovely moment for his two young kids, who seem rather less comfortable with the roars of the Stadio Olimpico crowd.
Italy vs France match officials
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (Wal) & Eoghan Cross (Ire)
Television Match Official: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
Foul Play Review Officer: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Italy vs France referee: Who is Six Nations official Karl Dickson?
Italy vs France
There appears to have been a late injury scare for France, Uini Atonio seemingly hurting a calf. No confirmed news of any change just yet - Dorian Aldegheri would presumably start, with Georges-Henri Colombe perhaps returning to the 23 having featured off the bench in rounds one and two.
Italy captain Michele Lamaro confident hosts can cope with French strength
It will be a mighty challenge for Italy to deal with the French forward strength, but the Azzurri matched Fabien Galthie’s side in Lille last year, swelling in size with Michele Lamaro, Ross Vintcent and Niccolo Cannone among those producing big performances.
"Last year we realised that we can cause them problems especially in some areas, the way we remained attached to the score, with a second half in which we dominated them physically too,” Lamaro recalled this week. “Today it will be a battle up front, they have 7 forwards on the bench and I'm sure that in the first 20 minutes they will want to put us under pressure like never before and this will have to be faced without arrogance. We play at the Olimpico and this is our home and no one comes here to attack us.”
Fabien Galthie axes Damian Penaud
It is a real surprise to see Damian Penaud left out for France today, the wing just one try short of Serge Blanco’s record Test tally for the nation. Theo Attissogbe went well on the opening night against Wales, but it still feels curious for a player of Penaud’s attacking talents to be omitted, even if rumours that he has been challenged to improve his defensive efforts are true.
"There are times when you have to make choices, you have to arbitrate between different possibilities,” Fabien Galthie explained on Friday. “Our vision is focused on the match and the long term."
"I spent two hours with Damian on Tuesday at the end of the afternoon, talking, listening to him, sharing. We absolutely have to be in harmony even if I understand that it is never easy for a competitor, for a champion, to accept, to take in the decision."
Italy hooker Giacomo Nicotera targets statement success
Giacomo Nicotera says that Italy are intent on ensuring that their win over Wales is not the sole success of the campaign, insisting that the Azzurri have to beat a better team to show their progress.
"We can't say 'we've beaten Wales, that's it.' The objective is to beat a team that is better than Wales," Nicotera stressed.
"Last year was great, the best Six Nations Italy has had, and we want to improve on it.
"We know if we don't keep improving then everyone will say last year was a fluke, or coincidence. We are on the right path and growing lots."
France opt for bold Springboks-style tactic
A seven/one bench? It’s very Rassie Erasmus from Fabien Galthie, trusting in the versatility of his backs to cover if injury strikes and giving his bench real punch.
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