FRANCE BLAZED AN early try-scoring trail at the start of the second half to wipe out Italy at Stade de France. Scores from Louis Picamoles, Wesley Fofana and Hugo Bonneval were enough for a 30-8 home win that keeps them in contention, with Ireland, for a Six Nations Grand Slam.
A dour first half saw Philippe Saint-Andre’s charges go into the switch over just six points ahead. Picamoles, who was France’s best player again, finally breached the stout Italian defence on 42 minutes and the floodgates soon burst open. Fofana followed the Toulouse forward in for a try of his own after 45 minutes and winger Bonneval ended any Italian resistance six minutes later.
Fofana intecepted, broke at speed and found Yoann Huget, who flipped a pass to Bonneval on the left flank to run in the score of the game:
There was also two red cards and a yellow flashed as props Rabah Slimani and Michele Rizzo were given their marching orders for an ugly scrap with 10 minutes to play.
France led 9-3 at the break in their Six Nations clash at Stade de France. Neither side offered much to write home about in the opening 40 minutes. Jules Plisson set the tone for some poor attempts on goal with a shanked drop goal effort on seven minutes.
Italy, who struggled off the kicking tee in their opening day loss to Wales, gave centre Gonzalo Garcia the duties this afternoon and were soon regretting it. His first attempt, from just inside the French half, fell short while his second go, on 22 minutes, veered wide.
France slowly got their act together, with Picamoles and fullback Brice Dulin offering themselves up for carries. The forward surges paid off and Jean-Marc Doussain got the scoreboard moving with a 26th minute penalty.
Realising, however, that the home side were not going to pull away any time soon, Tommaso Allan — the new Italian kicker — levelled matters with a penalty two minutes later. Allan proved that Italy are bereft of a competent goal-kicker on 31 minutes with a miss from straight in front of the sticks. Doussain added on two more penalties in the closing stages of the half, which was aptly brought to a conclusion by an Italian knock-on in the French half.
Any hopes Italy had of another upset win over France dissipated soon after the break as Picamoles and the pacy Fofana, in particular, combined to skew the scoreboard. There was a late consolation try for Tommaso Iannone, converted excellently by Luciano Orquera. France climb to second in the table ahead of an away date with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
France scores:
Tries: Picamoles, Fofana, Bonneval
Cons: Doussain [3]
Pens: Doussain [3]
Italy scores:
Tries: Iannone
Cons: Orquera
Pens: Allan
France: B Dulin; Y Huget, M Bastareaud, W Fofana, H Bonneval; J Plisson, JM Doussain; T Domingo, N Szarzewski, N Mas; P Pape (capt.), Y Maestri; N Nyanga, B le Roux, L Picamoles.
Italy: L McLean; T Iannone, M Campagnaro, G Garcia, L Sarto; T Allan, E Gori: A de Marchi, L Ghiraldini, M Castrogiovanni; Q Geldenhuys, J Furno; F Minto, M Bergamasco, S Parisse (capt.).
Try-scoring blitz sees France home in ill-tempered affair with Italy
France 30
Italy 10
FRANCE BLAZED AN early try-scoring trail at the start of the second half to wipe out Italy at Stade de France. Scores from Louis Picamoles, Wesley Fofana and Hugo Bonneval were enough for a 30-8 home win that keeps them in contention, with Ireland, for a Six Nations Grand Slam.
A dour first half saw Philippe Saint-Andre’s charges go into the switch over just six points ahead. Picamoles, who was France’s best player again, finally breached the stout Italian defence on 42 minutes and the floodgates soon burst open. Fofana followed the Toulouse forward in for a try of his own after 45 minutes and winger Bonneval ended any Italian resistance six minutes later.
Fofana intecepted, broke at speed and found Yoann Huget, who flipped a pass to Bonneval on the left flank to run in the score of the game:
YouTube credit: RBS 6 Nations
There was also two red cards and a yellow flashed as props Rabah Slimani and Michele Rizzo were given their marching orders for an ugly scrap with 10 minutes to play.
France led 9-3 at the break in their Six Nations clash at Stade de France. Neither side offered much to write home about in the opening 40 minutes. Jules Plisson set the tone for some poor attempts on goal with a shanked drop goal effort on seven minutes.
Italy, who struggled off the kicking tee in their opening day loss to Wales, gave centre Gonzalo Garcia the duties this afternoon and were soon regretting it. His first attempt, from just inside the French half, fell short while his second go, on 22 minutes, veered wide.
France slowly got their act together, with Picamoles and fullback Brice Dulin offering themselves up for carries. The forward surges paid off and Jean-Marc Doussain got the scoreboard moving with a 26th minute penalty.
Realising, however, that the home side were not going to pull away any time soon, Tommaso Allan — the new Italian kicker — levelled matters with a penalty two minutes later. Allan proved that Italy are bereft of a competent goal-kicker on 31 minutes with a miss from straight in front of the sticks. Doussain added on two more penalties in the closing stages of the half, which was aptly brought to a conclusion by an Italian knock-on in the French half.
Any hopes Italy had of another upset win over France dissipated soon after the break as Picamoles and the pacy Fofana, in particular, combined to skew the scoreboard. There was a late consolation try for Tommaso Iannone, converted excellently by Luciano Orquera. France climb to second in the table ahead of an away date with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
France: B Dulin; Y Huget, M Bastareaud, W Fofana, H Bonneval; J Plisson, JM Doussain; T Domingo, N Szarzewski, N Mas; P Pape (capt.), Y Maestri; N Nyanga, B le Roux, L Picamoles.
Italy: L McLean; T Iannone, M Campagnaro, G Garcia, L Sarto; T Allan, E Gori: A de Marchi, L Ghiraldini, M Castrogiovanni; Q Geldenhuys, J Furno; F Minto, M Bergamasco, S Parisse (capt.).
Referee: Jayco Peyper
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